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How are Nomex reinforced tops constructed? I'm completely in the dark on this one.
How is the nomex glued, are the braces attached to the nomex, etc.
Any info would be helpful.
Thanks.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

The top is actually a honeycomb sandwhich panel consisting of a spruce skin, nomex homeycomb and another spruce skin.
The spruce skins are approx .03 thick each and the nomex is in the .06 range. After you've laminated your top together it will look like a normal top and you can then brace it in the standard way.
So to answer you question the braces are glued to a spruce skin, not the nomex.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

J, I saw a guy do a demo on one a couple years ago at the Colorado
Custom show. Can't remember his name. Anyway, he basically had two
separate tops that he took down really thin. He epoxied the nomex in
between and put it in a vacuum press. He would then brace like normal,
on the "bottom" top. Sorry I can't tell you any more than that, but I'm
sure someone around here can.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Someone has to have the info from Healdsburg? I could give you a copy when I get moved into my new place but that probably wont be until mid March.

Like the other guys said its a sandwich of wood/nomex/wood that is vaccum pressed.

I don't know if everyone does it the same. Charles Fox cuts out the nomex and adds a spruce bridge patch and a patch around the soundhole. Just to add a little more strength. Other than that they are braced like a normal top.

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CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

I think I recall the latest edition of American Lutherie magazine having an article on Nomex top construction.

If anyone's got articles or photos, those would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the info so far.
I think I get it, but photos usually help to clear things up a bit after the written word.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Check out this discussion we recently had.

http://luthiersforum.3element.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID= 10006&KW=double+top#forumTop

J. if you are a member of GAL there is an article in the latest American Lutherie. It is a fairly well detailed account of how one maker does his doubletops. I can't remember the author right now but you'd know his name if I could think of it.

Check the GAL website GAL to see if you can purchase the issue if you are not already a member.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

J,

You need to talk to Randy Reynolds in Colorado Springs and Alan Dunwell of the Colorado Luthier's group. I think Alan even has some info about this on his site. If you are serious about trying to take on a double top, let me know.

J., I just checked and the article in American Lutherie was written by Randy Reynolds. Looks like you have the expert right there amongst you.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

As a follow up, does anyone have any information related to the longevity of the nomex material?

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Nomex is a phenolic resin impregnated paper in most cases. I have not tested to see if it is acid-free but from what I have seen of it, it seems very inert and not likely to crumble which is what happens when non acid free paper ages.

Note that I have only built two guitars with it having bought the Nomex at the ASIA symposium last year. Because its use is relatively new in lutherie, no one really knows how it will do long term but it is at least very promising.

I know that some of the aeronautical supply houses that sell it have data sheets on it, but havent looked for them.

People are still in the experimentation phase with Nomex so there is no one way to build with Nomex. SOme feel that it is stiff enough to not need any bracing other than the cross braces while others are still using the same or similar bracing as if the top was a single top.

That was me that did the demonstration at the Colorado Custom Guitar Festival, a show I put on with the Colorado Luthiers. Double tops in Steel String insruments were very new at that time, I think there were only about two of us doing that in that time period. For more info go to my web pages at
   http://dunwellguitar.com
and click on the link to Double Tops. I have also recently put up some pages that show my buiilding process using a double top as the sample in the photos. That is in the Luthier Pages link. Enjoy. Current project is an Irish bouzouki with a double top/back.

Alan Dunwell

[QUOTE=dunwell] That was me that did the demonstration at the Colorado Custom Guitar Festival, a show I put on with the Colorado Luthiers. Double tops in Steel String insruments were very new at that time, I think there were only about two of us doing that in that time period. For more info go to my web pages at
   http://dunwellguitar.com
and click on the link to Double Tops. I have also recently put up some pages that show my buiilding process using a double top as the sample in the photos. That is in the Luthier Pages link. Enjoy. Current project is an Irish bouzouki with a double top/back.

Alan Dunwell[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the link Alan. I'm going to be sure and bookmark your site for future reference.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA