Official Luthiers Forum!

coming out of the drum sander, what is the last grit you use on a spruce top? im ordering some sandpaper rolls and was wondering if i should buy something finer than 120. also, this particular top will have an abalone rosette. thanks.

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sweat the small stuff.

I bring mine down with 120

fine sanding comes later for me

80

80, it's quicker to take it down with a hand block once the box is closed than to change the roll on the drum sander.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

80 or 120, what ever is on the machine at the time. Anything finer than 120 will still need to be sanded by hand or with a good ROS or you could still have lines from the drum sander paper.

excellent. thanks for the responses.

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sweat the small stuff.

I use 150 to thickness spruce on the drum sander and then hand sand with a block for final finish to 220.

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

I only have 80 for my drum sander. The ROS takes care of the scratches.

Since Rick isn't here to say it, anything after 80 on the thickness sander and you're just wanking.... Just bring it to thickness, then build it. Scrape the inside surface for gluing, then when the box is done, it's off to the orbital sander for the rest.

you dont think that 120 or something close will save you some time later? especially if you are close to a thickness that you like, it seems like going from 80 to 220 could eat some material. this is my first guitar, so i honestly dont know. i went ahead and ordered some 120, then came back and read your post, grump.

so after the box is closed, go back with random orbit to 220. got it. i was told i should go to 400 on the abalone rosette. anyone else go to a similar grit? or just 220?

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sweat the small stuff.

you dont think that 120 or something close will save you some time later?

Sure as hell won't make up for the time it took to change the paper on the thickness sander. Besides, it'll clog before you know.

I agree with Mario, anything finer than 80 is a waste on a drum sander. The purpose of the drum sander is not to produce a fine finish, it is to thickness the wood passing under its drums.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

that totally makes sense. i wasnt even thinking about the time it takes to change the paper. thanks guys.

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sweat the small stuff.

80 for the Spruce is good. If you have Shell inlayed in your rosette a finer grit might make it a bit easier to smooth out the scratches.

Rich

Wood, plastic, or shell, scrape the rosette.

thank me later...

For example, with sandpaper you risk making a dip in the spruce around the rosette, since it is softer.

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Build log

I don't disagree but I use the finer grit because it gives me a little finer control at the end when I thickness to target deflection. If I had a better thickness sander I might not need to do that.

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