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...on my new guitar work bench that is. I was toying with quite a few different binding and purfling ideas and finally decided to go with the steel. I like the elegant look and decided that strength should probably be the deciding factor.

I used titebond glue to laminate the two pieces of perfectly matched birch plywood that I got lucky enough to find at my local exotic wood store, Lowe's, which has an outstanding selection of the finest hardwoods like the douglas fir 4 x 4 legs and the doug fir 2 x 2's I used for the bracing system.

In a departure from classical bracing I decided to go with the aluminum angle iron visible in the second picture. Really stiffened the structure. Any critique of the bracing system is, of course, very welcome.

Finished with Zar polyurethane, foam pad applicator. Will begin finish sanding tomorrow and should have it strung up by this weekend! I'll post an MP3 when she's tuned to pitch.

Larry

click thumbs for larger pics

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Hope you never bump a guitar(or other instrument) on the edge....

I used soft, white cedar to line the edge all my benches, precisely because it is softer than everything I work with, thus, it will dent, instead of what I am working on denting. I'd rather replace my benches' edges every 3-4 years than rebuild a guitar every now and again, or, gasp, explain to the owner of a vintage instrument why it has a brand new ding.... Accidents happen, my friends...

Hi Larry


I think that is a beautiful bench, but Mario is dead right that steel looks like it could do some serious damage. The other point that I thought looking at it, is that surface slippy, that may drive you nuts and raise the potential for an accident, most of my benches are covered with carpet as a soft surface to protect against dings and nics, you just have to make sure the carpet is kept clean and any glue that gets into it is removed.

I also remember reading something by Frank Ford and his point was if your bench is too beautiful you are afraid to screw into it etc. A good point I thought.

[QUOTE=Mario] Hope you never bump a guitar(or other instrument) on the edge....

I used soft, white cedar to line the edge all my benches, precisely because it is softer than everything I work with, thus, it will dent, instead of what I am working on denting. I'd rather replace my benches' edges every 3-4 years than rebuild a guitar every now and again, or, gasp, explain to the owner of a vintage instrument why it has a brand new ding.... Accidents happen, my friends...[/QUOTE]

Thanks Mario, that's a great call. You KNOW I would have found out the hard way. I will apply something to that steel edge. Problem was of course that I didn't have much choice since I decided to use the birch ply and was too cheap to buy butcher block.

...and what...no comment on the bracing system?

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[QUOTE=RussellR] Hi Larry


I think that is a beautiful bench, but Mario is dead right that steel looks like it could do some serious damage. The other point that I thought looking at it, is that surface slippy, that may drive you nuts and raise the potential for an accident, most of my benches are covered with carpet as a soft surface to protect against dings and nics, you just have to make sure the carpet is kept clean and any glue that gets into it is removed.

I also remember reading something by Frank Ford and his point was if your bench is too beautiful you are afraid to screw into it etc. A good point I thought.[/QUOTE]

Thanks - more good advice and am just messing around with the finish - had some gloss left over. I imagine I'll set up a part or piece that will protect the guitar. Can't wait actually for the first ding.LarryH38722.8725231482

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Thanks Larry

Didn't want you to think we were just picking on your new bench

I just use ply for my bench tops and sanded the edges.

Oh and the Bracing is beautiful, think you'll need some pretty heavy string though RussellR38722.8867592593

Hi Larry, if you keep that neat surface on your bench, i would agree with Russell in using carpet or those types of squares made of rubbery foam of some sort, they look like giant jigsaw puzzles on the contour and they are just the right size for working on a single guitar., you'd probably find them at your Wal-Mart for couple o bucks (FWIW)

BTW,your bench is kinda nice!

SergeSerge Poirier38722.9002199074

[QUOTE=LarryH] Problem was of course that I didn't have much choice since I decided to use the birch ply[/QUOTE]

Sure you did. My bench top is also doubled 3/4" ply, and I edged it with some 1/4" oak. Just glued the oak--no screws or nails--and it's lasted for 9 years now without separating. You could use a softer wood like pine, too. I think you'll find the metal to be problematic.

Larry,

I noticed that you seem to have a minimalist brace pattern. Are you trying to get better bass response by leaving the plates looser?

Did you copy this brace pattern from a master builder or is it a experimental design of your own?   

Tell me that it's not what they call carbon fiber?

Serge

[QUOTE=CarltonM] [QUOTE=LarryH] Problem was of course that I didn't have much choice since I decided to use the birch ply[/QUOTE]

Sure you did. My bench top is also doubled 3/4" ply, and I edged it with some 1/4" oak. Just glued the oak--no screws or nails--and it's lasted for 9 years now without separating. You could use a softer wood like pine, too. I think you'll find the metal to be problematic.[/QUOTE]

Of course you're right, there are always a lot of choices. I just felt, using the entire 8ft. length without a brace of some kind would have caused some sag across the front as eventually the bench will not be seen for the amazing load of crap that will occupt the top.

Could be wrong, and the metal will be covered with something in short order thanks to all of your warnings.

EDIT: Hey Carlton did you leave the front at the full 8 ft. with only the wood trim as you described and is it hanging in there as far as sagging as well?LarryH38723.8516782407

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[QUOTE=Graham Steward] Larry,

I noticed that you seem to have a minimalist brace pattern. Are you trying to get better bass response by leaving the plates looser?

Did you copy this brace pattern from a master builder or is it a experimental design of your own?    [/QUOTE]

Here's my thinking. On my last build the bench came out really dead in the bass and the trebles were kinda brittle so I thought, as you suggested, if I can loosen the top enough to get the bass punchy then use aluminum for the bracing, (which was VERY carefully chosen because it was lying around) I could warm the trebles and liven the bass.

Only time will tell as the last bench didn't really open up for years. I'll post when she gets strung up.

Larry

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[QUOTE=LarryH] Hey Carlton did you leave the front at the full 8 ft. with only the wood trim as you described and is it hanging in there as far as sagging as well?[/QUOTE]

Ouch, Larry! I didn't realize you used the whole 8' length for the top. I can see your concern about sag in that case. With that length, it probably would have benefited you to put some support structure underneath, rather than at the edge. Connecting a frame of 2x4's flush with the top of the legs would do the trick (with the "2" dimension in contact with the table bottom). I'd also build it with the framework inset from the edge of the top by several inches, so you've got room for clamping without interference.

Not having any woodworking experience all those years ago, I didn't do my bench correctly for lutherie. It's about 28" wide, by 48" long. 24x60" would be much better. Live and learn. No sag, though.

[QUOTE=CarltonM] [QUOTE=LarryH] Hey Carlton did you leave the front at the full 8 ft. with only the wood trim as you described and is it hanging in there as far as sagging as well?[/QUOTE]

Ouch, Larry! I didn't realize you used the whole 8' length for the top. I can see your concern about sag in that case. With that length, it probably would have benefited you to put some support structure underneath, rather than at the edge. Connecting a frame of 2x4's flush with the top of the legs would do the trick (with the "2" dimension in contact with the table bottom). I'd also build it with the framework inset from the edge of the top by several inches, so you've got room for clamping without interference.

Not having any woodworking experience all those years ago, I didn't do my bench correctly for lutherie. It's about 28" wide, by 48" long. 24x60" would be much better. Live and learn. No sag, though. [/QUOTE]

Thanks for the feedback Carlton. I actually did put a 2 x 4 brace as you described across the back but another prime directive you could not be aware of is I plan to roll cabinets under the bench so I needed to keep the front opened up. Hence the metal guitar killer.

I'll string it up tomorrow and let you know how it sounds.

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