Prepping and Joining the Plates

I re-sawed the plates for the sound board at the college before the Christmas break.  I ran them through the thickness sander until they were approximately the right thickness, then used my jointer to prepare the joint.  In the absence of a jointer, one could use a shooting board, and I know that some luthiers prefer the hand method regardless.  I do have a jointer, however, and it works perfectly fine.  I take the two book matched plates, and run them over the jointer together and I get a tight joint that stand up to the light test (holding the joint together and trying to see light through it).  My secondary test is that it squeezes out glue uniformly along its entire length.  That too tells me the joint will be tight.   


I used the lattice jig, pictured, left to join them up.  It worked precisely as advertised.  I glued the seam (using titebond) rubbed it until the glue began to set, then put it in the jig.  I wrapped the ropes in a criss-cross pattern loosely over the jig, then the loose ends I wrapped around one end, then drove the wedge shaped slats under the criss-crossed ropes.  It pulled the plates together sufficiently, and kept them dead flat while the glue dried.   You'll note there is no wax paper under the slats, but the slats themselves were well coated with wax before the glue up. 


The jointed plates are pictured at right, and you are looking at the exterior side.  After all the fussiness with the making of the rosette tiles, it was almost shameful how easily the plates went together with the jig.  You will note that there is a slight difference in color on either side of the center line.  The plate on the right has oxidized some, but as I do the finished sanding, that difference should disappear.  The next step will be the leveling of the top and the inlay of the rosette.  If all goes according to plan, I will tackle that in the coming weekend. 

Re-Sawing Prep

I didn't spend a lot of time in the shop on Sunday.  Lora wanted to get out of the house, and so we went for a movie (the new Sherlock Holmes movie -- fun, but no depth) and Chinese food (a moment of nostalgia for the restaurants in Chicago -- so much better). 

I did, however, put together what I will need to do my re-sawing.  On the left, is a tall fence.  I used it in making the raised panels for apothecary cabinet as well.  I clamp the panel to it, then run it across my table saw with the blade set at a 15 degree angle or so.  For re-sawing, I clamp it to the bandsaw fence, adjust the table so it is perfectly square to the blade, then back it away 3/16ths or so from the blade and slowly, slowly, slowly feed the stock.  In front of it are my thickness calipers (will be buying a better soon) and a push tool.  The push tool I put together from off cuts left from the bench.  Next is the piece of redwood that I hope to re-saw, the template, and scrap perforated hardboard that I will tape over the re-sawed plates to protect them.

The redwood I found at Owl lumber back in Lombard.  It was originally intended as decking, but someone recognized the grain and set it aside (and marked it up).  When you rap the plank with your knuckles, it rings, so I believe it has good acoustic properties.  It book matches beautifully, and finishes well.  I don't know how it will go, re-sawing the wood at my school, but we'll give it a shot.  I want to make some progress on an actual guitar.  I'll also check on the parts for my bandsaw today.  It should be relatively quiet at work -- most people already away for the Christmas holiday.  Peace on earth, good will toward people.