Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys,

Hope all is well with everyone. I was wondering if when gluing the top and
back to sides do you use the spreader clamps on the sides in the mold.
Thanks.

Ross

Only on the first to be joined. They tend to rattel if left till the last is glueed up plus the add a lot of weight

Ross, Yes, some folks do leave them in, like me. However, you MUST be sure, that you can get them out through the soundhole.

And... it depends on whether you use reverse kerf linings or standard kerfed linings.

The Reverse Kerf, really add stability and rigidity to the build, hence, once they are on, you no longer need the mold or spreaders for that matter.

But.... when you use standard kerfed linings, you just may wish to keep the spreaders, I use three, in their until done.

Mine are simple small blocks of mahogany which easily come through the soundhole, and the spreaders are simply home center turnbuckles. The turnbuckles come with eyelet screws, which some use and others discard in favor of all thread.

There are numerous ways to jig up spreaders, Hoffman uses a wooden threaded dowel and corresponding wooden threaded block. Good luck. Good question.

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Good question indeed. I was just pondering the exact same thing since this is my first build with a mold. Isn't this forum cool?

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey] Ross, Yes, some folks do leave them in, like me. However, you MUST be sure, that you can get them out through the soundhole.[/QUOTE]

Reminds me of when I was building kayaks. You'd sometimes get a newbie who'd built a 17' sea kayak in their basement, then couldn't get it out.

I use reverse kerf on my guitars, and spreaders all the time - they makes sure that the go bar deck pressure (how I do tops and backs onto the rims) cannot buckle anything (it can happen). And like what was mentioned above, make sure they come apart, and out the soundhole.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Some of the doublebass builders use spreaders that are notched to break in half then come out through the F holes.

Al

Ross keep the spreaders in until after have glued top and back on. Keeps everything square (if proper term, but what I call it anyway) Can't comment on reverse kerf on this matter as I have never or ever plan on using them. I would keep spreader in, in any case though. If spreaders are just in the waist(I don't use them in lower bout) pretty easy to remove through soundhole.

I'm wih Bruce on this one!
But you can use them if you prefer!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Thanks for the input guys, and this forum is definitely the biz-omb! I did
use reverse kerfing but will do the spreaders as well. Better safe then sorry!
Thanks again everyone.

blessings,

Ross

Ross, if you ever build two guitars, one with standard triangular and the other with reverse kerf and flex the rimsets before gluing back and top on, you'll be amazed.

This reminds me of the OLF SJ Build Two. Paul Woolson use his CFox style reverse kerf two part linings. When he finished install on the linings he set the mold and spreaders aside and glued on the back.

It's amazing what that second layer of solid material does to rigidity on a guitar rimset. You'll just have to try it to realize the tremendous difference in stiffness that reverse kerf linings add.

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I also leave my spreaders in until the top and back are on. Here is a shot of the set up.



You can make the spreaders with aluminum tubing and threaded rodes with a wingnut and a couple of washers

Robbie,
I like those because they're as neat as a pin. Is that threaded rod actually
an acme thread, or is the pic playing tricks on me?
Craig S.

Robbie those are slick, and I like it better than turnbuckles. Where do you acquire the aluminum tube?

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You can get the materials to build these here high tech luthier spreading devices (threaded rods and aluminum tubing)(3/8 inch standard rods and 1/2 inch tubes) at your local luthier supply warehouse (aka Home Depot or lowes)

That is too good.

Like Bruce, I use the turn buckles but realy like your invention Robbie.

Off to HD soon.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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Robbie, you ol' trickster!!! Exceptional idea--thanks!

We should henceforth and for all ways, refer to these as the O'Brien Spreaders.

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Submit to Lance for the Jigs and Tools Section, it's that good, eh? Don't forget, these are O'BRIEN Spreaders.

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Spread 'em, O'Brien!!!

Bruce, that sounds like a surgeon's tool.

"Nurse. Hand me the O'brien spreaders STAT. We've got to keep this man's chest open!"

Matia, is Stat a technical term?

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Hey, you can even keep the tag on them, a return them when your done

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

you guys crack me up!!!

[QUOTE=PaulB] Reminds me of when I was building kayaks. You'd sometimes get a newbie who'd built a 17' sea kayak in their basement, then couldn't get it out. [/QUOTE]

I hate it when that happens... But I've got to say, it sure came in handy when the basement flooded...

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I'll get this right one way or another... Very nice Robbie... I think I might make myself a set! Very cool...Joe Beaver38834.7548148148

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust