Official Luthiers Forum!

Just wondering who uses a thickness planer to thin backs, sides, tops,fingerboards and bridge blanks? 

Since I don't have a drum sander and can't justify the expense yet for the amount of guitars that I build, I used a hand plane to thin my first top and back and side set from the rough thickness. Even with a palm sander, this turned out to be quite an exercise in patience.  I vowed to never do that again, so I bought a thickness planer for the next ones.  I have thinned several sets since then but I am always concerned about chip out. Except for highly figured sets, any concerns with using these to minimize the hand work?   

I have since started buys pre-sanded wood since the added cost is minimal, however, I have several sets that are nearly 1/4" thick.  My planer only thins to .140", any tips for using some sort of backing board to get a thinner end product? 

Since I am in a small town, I haven't found a sander here or would gladly pay to have it sanded for me!

Thanks,

Laurie

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

I have a thickenss planer, but I wouldnt even think about using it for tops, backs and sides. I'm sure it can be done, but it would still take a lot of sanding to get it smooth enough to use for this.

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Reguards,

Ken H

There are a number of plans on the web and in GALs Red Books about how to build your own thickness sander and it does not have to cost much. The number of parts is relatively low and it does not have to be a powerfeed either...it is a good place to start and will help you in guitar building far more than a thickness planer and jointer will than in wood working wbere the opposite would be true.

I use a planer to smooth up rough cut billets prior to resawing, I use it to rough thickness fingerboards and bridge blanks, and neck blanks.
Before I knew better I would thickness backs and sides by using doublestick tape to attach them to an MDF carrier. I had some success, but I also had a really nice rosewood set that exploded in the planer. Yes it can be done, but I would not recommend it.

Al

Thanks - the reason I asked was that I had a similar reaction from a supplier.  He doesn't build guitars (but sells tonewood), so I was curious what everyone else thinks.   I have had only one "oops" which was totally my fault.  I was planing a piece of lightly figured Mayan Walnut (from LMI), was in a bit of a hurry and took too much off in one pass, resulting in a small chip.  It falls under the neck block, so no worries with that one, but it opened my eyes to the potential for problems with other woods 

I am surprised how clean the wood comes out, a pic of the mayan walnut is below which hasn't been sanded yet. 

BTW - I don't have a drill press, but the Wagner safe-t-planer is on the list....

 

Laurie

 

 

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

I would NEVER even bring any back and sides wood near a planer..... Planers are meant for rough and thick stock. It will tear and destroy your wood. Thats a fact!

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

i find my planer, in combination with the jointer, to be a fairly heavily used bit of tooling. i use my thickness planner to dimension neck stock. i use it when resawing, and for general woodwork, making jigs, etc. but like most others who have posted, my tops or b&s sets never go through the planer.

   I sold my planer and got sander. Planing that thin is hit and miss. sanding is less violent to the wood and more accurate.
   With planing you can expect micro fracutures and tear out. They are not designed for under .125.
john hall

If I were to change the planer that I just bought, it would be to have one with a spiral cutterhead, more friendly to wild wood than a blade, according to the Grizzly advertisements. I can't speak with authority on haw far one could push the envelope with a spiral cutterhead, but I bet someone here could.

The one I just got was such a good deal I couldn't pass it up. I may sell it and the 3HP shaper and get a band saw. But alas, my wife would like me to make some cabinets, so I keep it. I guess. If I have to.