Official Luthiers Forum!

What types of planes and chisels and anything special about the tip of the chisels as if double beveled or rounded heel or front bent? How about it Hesh, I know you like shaving braces.

I'll go.....

I use an Ibex plane, small one with a convex bottom, and Lee Valley 1/2 inch chisel turned on it's back for the scooping.

Disclosure: I've only done this once in my whole life.....

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

One Ibex finger plane and one 1/2" chisel and sand 'em pretty.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

The chisel on the top right, a 1/2" wide short chisel with a rounded bevel, and one of those el-cheapo stanley small stamped steel planes!


Sandpaper, too. Cheap, but effective

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Brad Tucker

Yup... Pretty much planes, chisels and sandpaper. For chisels, I tend to reach mostly for my 1" LMI chisel for carving off a lot of excess wood and tapering brace ends. I use a 1/2" Hirsch cranked neck chisel for doing any clean-up that might need to be done. For back braces I use a small plane almost exclusively for shaping. I use small sanding blocks with 80 or 100 grit paper and clean everything up.

Cheers,
Chad

Hi Chris!

I use mostly finger planes, the Ibex 12 and 18mm ones. I do use a paring chisel too but mostly for feathering away the ends and getting rid of the pesky excess mass at the X intersection where it is too close to get a plane in there.

I would say that 90% of my carving is done with finger planes though. You are right too Chris carving braces is the best part of guitar building for me.

Bandsaw, shaper, beltsander, small plane, chisle's

belt sander before gluing, double sided razor blades after, then sandpaper.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

Pin router before glueup. Small plane for cleanup after gluing.

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

I use my block plane, scary sharp 1/2" chisel, small finger plane, and sandpaper.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Splitting maul and an axe!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

So THAT'S how you get 'em so clean!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I use a low angle block plane for the tall braces(back-#1 &#2 classicals)
And a 1/2" chisel with the corners ground smooth so it can be pushed along a fan brace and touch the guitartop without cutting into it!
The center of the chisel is still sharp to remove brace material-but no top wood dings!!
mike

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Mike Collins

Todd, how do you like the double bevel chisel compared to the single bevel chisel? I just finished a book on carving tools and sharpening. I saw a video on Martin and the gale doing the braces just used a 1/2" chisel. Although it looked like a longer one or a longer handle. Has anyone here tried using those little brass / wood planes from Harbor Freight? I've read where they're not that bad if you sharpen the blades or put better steel blades in them.

I just chew the braces until they are in the perfect shape. Good toothpicks can be had, and good tone can be made.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Hey John Elton, I just finished watching your videos on voicing tops that arrived today. Great videos they will be a great help to me for voicing. I know what you use for shaving braces.

As a matter of interest, at the Martin factory I was surprised to see it being done by hand with simply a chisel. (Including the scalloped braces). She was fast and incredibly neat! As you can see, they are not all tiny whispers of shavings either.





Rod

As much as I like little planes, I don't use them for shaping braces. They always bump into things, besides they are really slow compared to a chisel where you can let the chips fly. So paring chisel for me, a single 3/4" Taylor (pictured) or Blue Spruce is what I like best. I rough out the shape from rectangular beams to something that looks like guitar braces quickly and then start fiddling, flexing etc until I think I'm where I want to be and sand lightly to finish up.

These braces are still oversize, of course.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

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Rod buddy fascinating pictures from the Martin factory!

Todd ,
Thanks for giving me an idea for another use of my motorized radius dish jig. I see no reason why I couldn't put my work dish in the sanding jig and place 1/4" dowels in holding position. And just turn the dish on the lazy susan to position it. Maybe add a hold down clamp to keep it from spinning while shaving the braces.

Lie Nielson block plane for the radius, then ibex finger plane, schneider plane and japanese paring chisels (usually either 3/4" or 1") for shaping. I also have various sanding sticks that I use for the finishing touches...