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Lillian, sorry to hear about your sons mishap.

That's another reason for building archtop guitars, you only have to cut enough for an "X" brace

Thank Andy.
He is going to recover with complete use of his fingers. The scars shouldn't be too bad. And his momma isn't going to kill him. But more importantly, he has admitted that he doesn't know anything about using any of my tools, power or otherwise, and is willing to learn. It will be a good opportunity for the two of us to get to know each other again, especially before he graduates and sets off into the world. Who knows, he might get bitten by the building bug as well.

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Aoibeann

That is very good news Lillian! Thanks for the update!

So glad to hear your son's fingers will be okay, Lillian. The thought of what he did makes me cringe, to say the least! He's very lucky!

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

This may make some of you cringe and some may think I'm absolutely crazy, but I learned this from a patternmaker, over 30 years ago and it has served me very well with no mishap....ever.
I use a very sharp icepick. This may not be acceptable to some and I can understand the concerns but after 30 years of this practice I swear by it.
Tom Armstrong

[QUOTE=Aoibeann] Thank Andy.
He is going to recover with complete use of his fingers. The scars shouldn't be too bad. And his momma isn't going to kill him. But more importantly, he has admitted that he doesn't know anything about using any of my tools, power or otherwise, and is willing to learn. It will be a good opportunity for the two of us to get to know each other again, especially before he graduates and sets off into the world. Who knows, he might get bitten by the building bug as well.[/QUOTE]

Lillian - I go by Anthony so as not to be confused with the prolific Andy Zimmerman

Lillian -- excellent idea regarding your son. You should graduate him towards power tools by first teaching him how to sand/level sides, scrape binding and the very important wet sanding skills An apprentice should start at the bottom before he learns to play with the toys!

Sorry Anthony. Saw the A and the Z and stopped looking. You can blame it on my lack of sleep or ADD. Either way, sorry about that.

An apprentice.... I like that idea.

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Aoibeann

And don't forget the sweeping, sweeping, sweeping

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I do mine like Colin. I use the planer to get the stock to the correct height.
Then I band saw the strips a bit wider than needed.
Then I stick them in my planer to get the correct thickness.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I think i'll give Colin's method a go too, sounds much safer than the TS...