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I was HHG gluing some .050" ebony veneer to the inside of the upper bout for a sound port backing and was thinking of a quick way to make a clamping caul for it. I remembered back to my Discus fish breeding days when I used styrofoam under the aquariums to level them out from uneven surfaces. So I bent the veneer on the Ibex and I glued a piece of Styrofoam to a piece of wood and clamped it up. Perhaps this might come in handy for some other things. I understand this might not work in a situation where a lot of pressure is needed for a long time because the foam will compress and conform to the shape and may loose the clamping pressure. But it seems to work in this case.

After one hour the strofoam conformed to the shape but it was long enought to let the glue set and hold. But I wonder if this might have possibilities for making contour sanding blocks? Some food for thought and something to play around with I guess.

[That's Clampologie at its best!

I used to clamps to fit curves from wood roughly sawed to the shape, and then used automotive bondo for a form fit. Wax paper kept it sticking to the guitar.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Nice, Chris. I used Friendly Plastic to make my caul for this a'la Robbie O'Brien. It can be re-used if you put your port in the same place on the same shape guitar. If not, just drop it back in the hot water for a couple minutes

Yeah but you have to have something to do with that foam packaging material. Go Green..

I'm all for re-purposing things!!

I use blue laminate underlay in layers for the same purpose. It can easily be cut with scissors and the glues doesn't stick to it.