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I was shaping braces over the weekend and I started to wonder. I glue my braces on full height and square. On my first guitar, I carved in the scalloping and taper (ie set the height of the brace) and then carved the sides of the braces with the parabolic profile. This made the parabola different depending on where on the brace it was. On later instruments, I carved the parabolic profile on the full height of the brace first and then carved the taper and scallop. The made the top of the braces flat except where they are full height. I don't touch the sides of the braces at all after I put the initial curve on them. (Actually, I do when I'm tuning the top but I try to maintain the original curve and the tops of the braces are still flat.

What do you all do? Why do you do it the way you do?

I pre-carve my braces. Don't do much to them after gluing them on. This of course cuts out most of the tapping and tuning processes, but it seems to work for me. I do tweak them a bit, but since they all usually end up looking about the same every time, I figure why risk chisel damage to the top? The less work I have to do then the better. Where the brace is at it's lowest height, it's relatively flat, but everywhere else I try to keep a triangular/parabolic shape.

Good seeing you on Sunday Mike! I really enjoyed "Freight Train"...

Don W38398.6268287037

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I put them on tall, and then seem to carve most of the brace away in the tuning process. :o)

I don't worry too much about a parabolic cross section or whatever: the amount of weight you save seems negligable to me at best.

You can avoid a lot of chisel damage by using finger planes.

Alan Carruth

I pre-shape the profile of my x-braces I have developed a scallop shape that has enough material to allow final tunning I shape the cross section profile after gluing with a chisel and finger plane. The pre-set thickness of the brace at the apex of the scallop is 1/8" thicker than the shallowest scallop I have done since I have been building. This allows for material to be removed as needed. I keep expecting to find a set of braces and a top that there is too much gone in this area already. But since I have been pre-profiling the x-braces, I have still had some material to removal in the major scallop. so I have not been bit hard yet. but I am still waiting.

I love, love, love my little IBEX fingerplane for carving braces. I fair the ends in and carve finger braces/heights with a well-sharpened chisel, but most of the rest of the shaping is done with the IBEX plane. Lovely.

Hi Mattia,
I just finished orderding an IBEX plane ..12mm
Post a picture of some of your finshed brace work...Please I would love to see some of your artistry.
Thanks, WalterKWalterK38398.780462963

I have several IBEX, but find myself grabbing my Kunz, see the online resource page at top of OLF main page. My Ibex's are convex for carving, I like the flat sole of the KUNZ.

There are, I believe, flat-soled ibex planes as well (or similar bronze-bodied planes, anyway.) I have to say I don't find it a disadvantage. They've also got that nice, round, no sharp edges body shape so you have to try real hard if you want to ding things with them.

Walter: I'm not sure it's 'artistry' quite yet. I've only got two carved! But if yous insists, here's the bracing on my first (the second, I don't have completed bracing pics of, only intermediate ones). Left it a little 'heavy' overall, though. Next few will be a bit lighter in terms of top thickness and bracing:



Not the nicely patina'd little IBEX plane in the upper right-hand corner ;-)

It's all according to which bracing pattern I'm using. If standard scalloped then they are glued on 75% or so of their final shape, with the basic scallops and cross section ready done, final shaping is with an ibex finger plane and sandpaper when tuning. If I'm using a parabolic bracing pattern then they are glued on about 90% finished with tuning using only papers.

Colin

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Say Mattia...that looks nice. Very clean looking!!
Thanks for the Picture. I hope I can get that good at it.
WalterK

I glue my braces on full size, then use a chisel and IBEX finger plane to shape.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Very nice work Lance...Sharp!!
Question: What is the height of the X at it's highest point?
I ordered a set of pre-made braces from Stewmac and the braces were very low in height??
It's hard to tell how high they are from pictures.
Would appreciate your help with dimensions. Thanks!
WalterK.
OH...Your fretboard is on it's way to you for the auction.
Sorry about the delay.

They start at .750, at the X intersection.

Cool about the FB -- Thanks Walt!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I shape braces like Al does. And, I found my chisel work to be clumsy enough to need something other than chisels. Picked up some great little tools from the St. James Tool Co.-- one is called a "Bow Maker's Shave". Cute little guy about 3 5/8" long, bronze body with a 3/4" wide flat sole (blade width of 19/32". What is that, Colin, about 15mm?). Excellent in close quarters. Also two "Instrument Maker's Carving Planes". Larger, heftier tools that fit snugly in the palm. Nickel bodied...one has a flat sole, which removes stock quickly. The other is spoon shaped, and is perfect for scalloping. They are 6" long, with a 3/4" wide blade. Even if you don't order any tools from this company, the catalog is a lot of fun to browse through. I don't see a web address for them, but their number is 800-574-2589.
Steve Kinnaird38399.5980324074

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http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

[QUOTE=Steve Kinnaird] St. James Tool Co.-- one is called a "Bow Maker's Shave". Cute little guy about 3 5/8" I don't see a web address for them, but their number is 800-574-2589.
[/QUOTE]
Steve,
Is this the same Co.
http://www.stjamesbaytoolco.com/

Michael, that's it, indeed! Did you look through their site? There is a page of luthier's tools, and the ones I use are near the bottom of the page. It looks like the "Brace Shaves" (or whatever they called them) are now offered in a set. I've got the flat, and the convex length. And the bow maker's shave which is pictured there too.
These tools took a bit of tweaking when they arrived. That done, they work superbly. Steve Kinnaird38400.9779513889

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http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Yep Steve and I have been drooling all day I can see a lot of uses for them.