Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm in the process of buying tools to build #2.
My first was built from a serviced kit, the 2nd will be built from scrath and I'm looking at a 13" planer for sides and backs that have been resawn.
All of the planers I've looked at will plane to a minimum thickness of 0.125.
What/how do you get the sides down to 0.085/0.090?
What do you use to get the correct thickness?
Any recomendations on planers?

Thanks,
Mike

Mike not a good idea. You run a high risk of shattering thin stock. Pretty risky at best. I'm sure others will chime in

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The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

To get wood as thin as you need for luthiery you need a sander. The planner as Bob pointed out will shatter wood .
john hall
blues creek guitars

Nope, that won't work! The planners will shatter destroy your wood (don't ask me why I know!)a thickness sander is what you need.. a 10/20 or 16/32 would work fine.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Man, you guys post faster that Serge.
You just saved me a bunch of money and a little bit of embarrassment <grin>.

I was planning on building a thickness sander.

Thanks for the very quick response and good advise.

Mike

Thanks Hesh,

I happen to own a Wagner Safety planer and did consider using it, but wasn't sure I'd get the results I wanted.

I've seen several plans/ideas for building a thickness sander and am seriously considering building one.

I'm still a little red faced about the 13" planer thing, but ... I guess if you don't ask the question, you'll get the answer the hard and/or expensive way.

You gotta love this forum,
Mike

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Mike relax the same thing happened to me. I was going to buy a planer too and these guys saved me. [/QUOTE]

Planers are still nice to have around. True, you can't thickness sets with it, but they are handy.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I'm a little late but...

I had purchased a 13" planer last year for lutherie but used it once and sold it this year for half the price i paid so Mike, you're not alone! At least, you had the forum to ask this brilliant question!

I then built my own drum sander for half the price i got for the sale of my planer! Best investment in time and money i've made so far!

Mike I use a Wagner in the drill press for all of my back and side thinning, I find it very efficient if kept sharp, as of course all your tools should be! It's also great for fingerboards necks etc, wouldn't be without it.    Make a good table, fence and hold down and it will work fine. Finish off with a drill press sander or ROS.

I've opposite to most of the guys here, I've had a couple of thickness sanders and have got rid of them both and gone back to the Wagner as I prefer it. I think I'd probably have kept my 10-20 if I hadn't upgraded to the 16-32, but only use it for final finishing.

Oh all of my tops I still thin with a plane, and scraper. as I think you get a better feel for the wood.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I've used a planer to thickness sides, and it can be done, but when You see an expensive set explode into chips, it makes you talk to the Lord. My planer still gets used, but never for anything thinner than about 1/4", and that is pushing it. I use a Performax thickness sander, and it is adequate, but if you can afford a wide belt sander you will be better off.

Al

Mike, I like the Wagner for thinning backs and sides and tops. It works well for me and I use a disc sander to finish up the swirl lines from the Wagner.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Thanks for all the great advice guys.
I'll get to work on the sander.

Mike

Dave, nice to see pics from your shop bud!

I'm with Dave - Wagner and then finish up with a disk sander. I'd like to build a drum sander someday, though.

If you do any regular woodworking, the planer is still pretty useful. I can't think of many non-luthier projects where I haven't used mine. (12.5" DeWalt).

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I use my planer and jointer for squaring up neck blanks.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

I use mine all the time in guitar building...preparing neck blanks, fretboards, stock for cutting bindings, heel blocks, neck blocks and rosettes, jig building, etc. Given the relatively low price I think they're a fine addition to any shop.drwhite38977.4254976852

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

like david and ron i use my planer for a whole host of tasks, but not thicknessing sides and plates. i think they are still worth the investment but you need to recognize what you will be able to use one for and what you will not.

Up until recently I used a hand plan for backs, sides and tops. It is not as difficult as it sounds! Then just scrape and sand.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

[QUOTE=Joe Beaver] Up until recently I used a hand plan for backs, sides and tops. It is not as difficult as it sounds! Then just scrape and sand.[/QUOTE]

Its what I use. If a plane doesnt work I go to a scraper plane and then work to final thickness with a cabinet scraper.