Profiling sides

[Graham Long]

Hi,
I've made a couple of Guitars but I don't think i'm getting the side profile right. I've tried the Williams method and found it a bit hit and miss and I was recently given a set of Stew Plans which showed the sides cut to the profile before being bent.
Can someone help me with this??
Cheers
Graham

[woodrat]

Hi Graham, I still use the Cumpiano method of tapering from 2 inches behind the waist and then refine with a plane and then sand on radius dish after the linings are in . If you have a radius dish you can match it in to that. The williams method was from the 70's ....probably the 1870's

Radius dishes make life much easier.

John

[ozziebluesman]

Graham I have always profied the side first before bending. I leave about 2mm grace on the sides where the back will be glued and use a sanding stick or block plane to true them up to the plan specs before gluing in the linings. The other side where the top will be glued is sanded flat and to the plan specs.

Many ways to achieve the same outcome.

Cheers

Alan

[Kim]

Here is THE single best method I have come across for side profiling..thank you Mr Colin Symonds

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/view ... ilit=+side

Cheers

Kim

[DonW]

I have a method of profiling that I'm not aware of? Hmmm...

Actually, I started drawing my body shapes in my CAD software in 3D, and have been extracting out the sides. My current instrument, an OM had it's sides profiled by the cnc prior to bending, and it made assembly and getting the rim done right SO much easier.

[Nick]

I use a method similar to Kim's link to Colin's except I don't use tape, I use the sides themself. So I'll bend the sides first in their 'as supplied' rectangular form then place them in my mould then it all goes down onto a radius dish. When I'm doing the back I make sure to pack the tail end of the mould up the required overall body taper then I'll pack a pencil up so it just leaves a mark at the tail then just scribe a line around the sides. Replace the rear radius dish with the front & turn the mould over & repack the pencil so that it catches the furthest point from the dish (usually the waist) & scribe another line on the sides. I then just pull the sides out & cut close to my lines with the bandsaw, leave enough on for cleaning up with a bit of sandpaper in their respective radius dishes.
Of course this all assumes you have radius dishes & moulds! If you don't then somebody who builds 'free form' on a solera may be able to shed some light on their methodology.

[Graham Long]

Hi Kim,
Thanks for that link, its just what I need and looks so simple.
I have bought a radius board from Stewmac which I've been using in my Go-deck.
Do you use a radius disk with sand paper to sand the final profile before gluing the back?
Have made your own radius disks? as I'm looking for a method to make my own disks
Cheers
Graham

[Allen]

Yes, I glue 24" sandpaper disk to my radius dish's. Made my own with a router and a sled. Look in the tutorials section for Graham MacDonalds low tech method. It works very well.

I have my radius dishes set up to mount onto a potters wheel. Makes for profiling so much quicker you would wonder how you did without it.

[kiwigeo]

Of course this all assumes you have radius dishes & moulds! If you don't then somebody who builds 'free form' on a solera may be able to shed some light on their methodology.

With my classicals I rough trim sides by supporting a radius dish over the sides and running around with a pencil in a compass. Final shaping is by sand paper lined dish.

[needsmorecowbel]

Thanks so much for that link Kim that is such a simple yet brilliant Idea...argh pieces of the puzzle slowly slotting together haha