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Hi all. I starting to make moulds and bending forms for a bunch of different guitar shapes. I want to be able to cut the mould and bending form side at the same time. So I need to know what size of bit to make this cut with. I am thinking either 3/16" or 1/4" So, what size of a "space" are you using!?

Thanks

Shane

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Canada

Shane, I am using 1/8".
L.

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

The answer really depends on the individuals bending practice. I use a slat and blanket on each side, so the difference is the thickness of the side, one slat and one blanket. Some only use one blanket, I cant say which side as Ive never done it that way. At any rate, in practice 3/16 should be about right. 80-90 for a side, Id guess the blanket is about the same and the slat is what 30ish. So that gets you in the 180ish range. Close enough if the bending form in a bit off.

And I never did a "space". I unfortunately had to make my form the old fashion way and use separate pieces. I wish I had a CNC.

The last mould that I built was for a Martin 0000 size. I cut the pieces for the mould on my bandsaw and used a couple of the left over interior parts for the bending form. I used the OSS to clean up the cuts, which worked well. It did take a little more effort than cutting them out on a router table with a pattern cutting bit, but I'm happy with the results.

Similar thing here, last mold and form was for an OLF SJ.
First bandsawed to outside mold and cleaned that and inside form up with drum and sand belt sanders, then used them as templates to rout the others as required after bandsawing them.
Kept the clean ones as templates in case I need them in the future.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.