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PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:51 am 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo
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Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:06 am
Posts: 460
Location: United States
I'm planning on incorporating carbon fiber into some of my top bracing and am looking for anyone who might have some experience with it. What glue works best, what's the best way to cut it, is it better to laminate it or place it on the outside of the brace, etc.,etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:33 am 
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Koa
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Posts: 886
Location: United States
Well I can tell you how I do it, I suspect Mario does it very similar cause I stole the methodology from him

I create two strips for each brace and have a little jig with 1/4" bolts at the end that I slide the strips over (I drill holes in the ends of the jigs). Then I use .020 X X 18 cf strips (from LMI or other places) and using a good quality 45 minute epoxy I wet the first strip, lay down the CF, then wet the CF and lay down the second strip.

I repeat this for all the ones I'm making (putting wax paper between each slat I assemble), then I put on a top piece of wood and use good strong clamps to squeeze the snot out of it and let the whole thing cure overnight.

When done I remove and trim them down, I end with braces that are a little less than 1/4" thick, about 3/4" high and 18" long (my strips are longer and I trim the ends down to the CF length).

My only caution with this is that it plays hell on your carving tools, I am now shaping my braces long before I get them on the guitar becase CF laughs at sharp blades.

Hope that helps...

-Paul-

P.S. i can post pics tonight when I get home from work, but I know Mario has some that he posted on MIMF some time ago so he be able to illuminate how he does it better.

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PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:10 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 3:49 pm
Posts: 908
Location: Canada
Something like the above, but I don't use epoxy, instead, I use polyurethane glue(either Excel One or Pro Bond, but NEVER gorilla glue). Mine end up around .300" thick, but that can vary by my mood, the guitar being built, the phase of the moon, etc......

My clamping jig is somewhere in my "construction" pages on my site....


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