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I'm not sure, but, what is the fabric used to re-inforce the X-Brace in a steel string???

I cap'd my top, but, I'm just curious what the material is and where do you get it...I may use a bit to back up my cap (since the cap is rather smallish--made from a small leftover scrap with correct grain direction).

I'm not sure if I'd go this crazy with the x-brace re-inforcement...but...I still would love to know what that fabric is (looks like a rather loose weave to me...but...that's on my '75 fender)

Thanks for any help...
JP

   I'm not exactly certain what the fabric is, but I do know you're better off with a small piece of wood. I'm certain more experienced builders will want to chime in here...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Like my bud Alain said Jp, you definitely wanna have a wood piece covering your joint to really stabilize that area, better feel safe than sorry!

    I've heard of people using cotton! I also heard of somebody using a gun patch, but I don't know why specifically, or if it is important, what kind one uses!

    

Most often, I've seen wood! I believe Frank Ford has something on it.

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

JP,

I just use a a small piece of spruce glued over the joint. I believe cloth
was used alot as a reinforcing material in the past but not so much these
days.

I would suggest using a spruce cap like the others said.
It's very easy to do and much better than cloth. There have been a few threads on this topic lately if you want to check the archives.DaveAndy38893.3552199074

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Even a short wood patch has got to be better than the little cloth spot I've seen on so many guitars. I suspect the 'classic' material to use would be linen: it's strong, not too stretchy, and it glues well. Most 'natural' fabrics should work well so long as they are heavy enough: an old sheet or T-shirt might not do much for you. Cotton-poly blend glues well and is strong, too, according to my tests, particularly if you use HHG. I just got a scrap of silk that's the right weight, and need to break out the setup so I can run some tests on that. Expensive, but classy.... Stay away from nylon.

When I first strated building I followed exactly what my Martin kits did. They use a piece of heavy but loose weave cotton. I also used fiberglass weave cloth a couple times. It really does not matter much what material you use. It is only the matrix for the epoxy that binds it to the brace.

I too will be one that suggests to cap the X with wood. unless you have a loose fitting notch. If the notch is not a firm fit every where then a fabric cap will help to tie the two halves togather better than ignoring the loose fit.MichaelP38894.3983101852

Funny thing this topic popped up. I have had 3 wood brace supports break off in repairs. Simon Patricks all of them. They use the spruce over the brace. I have yet to see the linen swap come off. My feeling is that as long as the joint is supported someway. The S/P braces are actually butt jointed.
   I guess it is the prep that failed. The bridges rolled over and really pushed the tops .
john hall
blues creek guitars

That's the stuff I use for side tapes.

Thanks for all the inputs...I know that I had recently posted a question regarding the Cap...but...after looking at my little cap job and seeing that the joint is not the tightest of my joint jobs...I'm thinking that I'll be adding the fabric in addition to the small cap.

This probably seems like overkill...but...I think that it probably is a good idea based on what I have learned so far. I'll send some pics after this comes out...along with some pics of the great box closure...I just have to decide to use the rubber strapping OR spool clamps...

Hmmm...

Thanks again,
JP

Good luck with this JP, looking forward for the pics of that closed box bud!

Dread1916 wrote: 'I just have to decide to use the rubber strapping OR spool clamps... '

JP, on my last box closure, I used both. At the waist and at the neck and heel blocks I used my cam-clamps, and then I just tied-up the rest. Quick and painless. Although probably not quick enough for hide glue...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Hesh, I thought the spool clamps were great!!

I had three clamping systems to brace and close my guitar box: Go bars for the braces, which I thought
worked extremely well considering I made 'em myself out of dowels and compression springs...

F clamps (why are they called sash clamps in the UK, they look like an F shape, so why not name it something more practical?) for the box closure at neck and tail, and spool clamps to gently tease the rebellious sides into the top's shape..

I only used 12, 'cos that's all I had...that and some cauls under the spools to create even pressure...it worked, honest!!

[QUOTE=Hesh1956]

Of course it is probably a lot tougher to hit yourself in the face with a spool clamp and the spool clamp may hurt less too......that is of course if any one was dumb enough to do this......... [/QUOTE]

Don't you believe it...a spool clamp dropped on my head when I quickly placed it temporarily on a high shelf whilst clearing up...let me assure you, it HURTS!!