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Earlier this year I said that this was going to be the year I stopped dragging my feet and actually start building my first guitar.
I have been to the dump and made room in the shop. Built a bench, well almost. I still need to put the vise on it.    But I'm making progress and I have a picture to prove it.



I'll work on the bending form this weekend, well, unless life gets in the way of my plans.

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Aoibeann

Alright, Lillian!!! We're proud of you, now you can't stop until you finish. I mean you really can't stop.



I do have a concern, but it might just be the photo, the form looks a little thin to me. My first built form is tooooo thick, but it works. My second, I made so that the neck end of the sides stick out about an inch. Plenty of support for the spreader braces inside and enough clearance to install kerfing and glue on the top and bottom.    Anyway, I'm old and quite often wrong, so don't listen to me. I'm just happy for you that you are finally making headway and sawdust!!!!


Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

WOOO HOOOOO!! Go get 'em Lillian!

Lookin' forward to the progress. Let's see who finishes first, I must admit I am a bit ahead of you, I am at the binding stage, but......I have had the box closed for over a year !

That is an awesone form! You might want to cut some of the corners off to lighten it up, it is amazing how often you pick thaht thing up and move it around.

Thanks for sharing!

Shane

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Canada

Thank you Ron. Honestly this is the reason I've posted. Its hard to come up with excuses when I have to explain to all y'all why I went back on my word. I'd rather pass on that experience. SO....

Its two layers of 3/4" birch ply. I haven't decided if its too thin or not. I'm still debating adding another layer or two.

Shane, I'm thinking that you have a serious head start on me, but considering what's on your plate.... well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
As for the form, I am planning on clipping the corners, as soon as I figure out what I'm going to do.

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Aoibeann

i generally make my molds three layers thick. i found four to be too thick. but i feel 2 to be too thin though i have never tried it.

i would trim it a bit though. you don't need all that material on the sides which serves no useful purpose. make the sides have about the same amoumt as the ends. will make it easier and more convenient to handle, require less bench space in use as well as taking up less storage space.

Two more layers Lilian, make it 3" thick. I think that is what mine is. I gotta get back to the game...only about 4 minutes left and Vancouver is only up by one!

GO CANUCKS!!

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Canada

Lilian,

Now that you are actively building you have the perfect excuse to buy a couple of new machines from the guy down the hill.  Just put a little sawdust on them and sweatie will think they've been there for years. 

Doug

Lillian,

If you haven't stuck the layers together yet, you might just add spacers between the two layers you've already cut. Keeps the weight down.

Like this, it's three layers of 3/4" birch ply, same as John Hall's excellent forms. Thicker might be nice, though.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

...and congratulations on a great start!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Knock'em Dead L !!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Great work Lillian! I have to agree with Michael, 3 layers of 3/4" board. IF you go 4 layers thick that will make your mold 3" total thickness, that is OK for thicker bodies, but on say an OM where the neck is only 3 1/4 or so, it gets kind of hard to get the linings clamped in place. Don't ask me how I know this

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com