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I am getting ready to make some side braces and would like to know what are the ideal sizes?? Thickness and width?
Do you tuck side braces under the kerfing or just glue them to the sides?
Thanks, Walter

When I use them I make mine .250 wide and about .060 thick. I have never tucked them behind the linings, but there are good reason to do so. I may try to piece my linings between the side braces on my next.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Walter, I'm sure I'll be contraversial about this but here is my thought anyway. The only REAL reason for them is to prevent a crack from continuing up the side (think of the old trick women use in pantyhose which is to dab fingernail polish at the end of the run. Stops it in it's tracks). Part of me says that if a guitar takes an impact enough to crack the side, it should be looked at by a luthier and fixed at that point, and not rely on the supports to stop further cracking. That said, I will put them in on very straight grained sides. Sapele, mahogany, wenge...all have the ability to run with a slight crack.
Otherwise, I really don't use them at all.
To anwswer you question: I make mine 3/4" x the distance between linings by about .050" thick and have the grain run perpendicularily to the side.

i tuck them. mine are .060 x the width of the lining segments.

I put mine between the side and lining. They are about 3/32 x 1/2.

For resonators I also use the same side braces, But I will add a short section of veneer at the waist bends and tail-block about 1/16 in thick

heck just eat 8 popsicles

Mine are 1/4" wide and the thickness of the back of the guitar. (about .10 depending on the wood.) When I cut out the back I rip off some strips from the scrap and use those. So far, I haven't tucked them but I've been convinced that I should so I will start doing that on the next ones. I might try bias tape instead but I've seen potential buyers looking for wood braces. I suppose they feel that that is one of the hallmarks of a "Quality" guitar.

Hello, all. First time poster- long time lurker- I've been sucking up your knowledge for months. Great site! I'm a hobby builder- making the guitars I've always wanted to have for my own- hoping that someday someone will play one and shout "Make me one!". Working on number five now...

LanceK- you say that there are "good reasons" to tuck the side braces behind the linings. Others agree. Why? What's the benefit? Are my guitars going to explode/implode because I haven't been doing so? My current build, an SJ-size Palo escrito/ sitka,, I used back cut-offs for the braces and glued between the linings as usual. Am I in error here?

And just HOW do you put the braces behine the linings? Glue them in and lay the ribbons over them per Cumpiano?

[QUOTE=Cogges]

LanceK- you say that there are "good reasons" to tuck the side braces behind the linings. Others agree. Why? What's the benefit? [/QUOTE]
The main reason to put in side braces is to stop a crack from running along the side should the guitar get hit on the side. If you do not tuck the brace under the lining, then there is a path for a crack to travel past the brace. Worse yet is the effect that the joint between the brace and the lining is the place on the side that is the most vulnerable. The brace makes the side stiff, the lining makes the side stiff and the only place where the side has any give to absorb the shock it right at that joint. All the shock goes to that one spot and a shock that might not have even caused a crack in an unbraced side, because the side could have flexed, will cause a crack. That crack will be right at the lining and could run all the way along the side.

That is the theory as I understand it. I also know several builders who do not tuck the braces and they have had no problems or any large number of cracks that run along the lining.

[QUOTE=Cogges]
LanceK- you say that there are "good reasons" to tuck the side braces behind the linings. Others agree. Why?
[/QUOTE]

Hi Coggs! Welcome to the Luthiers Forum -- I say there are good reasons to do so to avoid controversy. I have talked to more than a few well know builders that say the side braces are good for nothing, and they only use them when requested -i.e for a traditional looking instrument. Then there are those that believe in them, I'm not discounting anyone, this is allot like the Dovetail verses the M&T - I dont use them, but I might

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

If you drop an completted but un-toped/un-backed Koa rim onto a hard edged object from about a 2ft drop. You can see exactly what side braces are good for (or lack of, are not good for) Don't ask me how I know nor ask me about the outcome of my first and only forey with this experiment

Walter, for you edification I'll attempt to post a couple of pix from Chris Jenkins. He's a fellow LINT member, and a whale of a fine builder. He also indulges flights of fancy--he inlays his side braces, and has a lot of fun with the interiors of his instruments.
Like this:




And this:



If you study these shots carefully, you'll see a world of ideas. He'll be the first to tell you there is no "RIGHT" way.

Hope this helps,

Steve

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Steve,

Please invite Chris to stop by, his work is amazing! I would love to see those pictures enlarged, and for that matter, more pictures! Do you have any more?

Jeff

Paul,
Does it concern you that a crack may form without an impact?
Thanks

How do you tuck them in?