Jump to content

Build 2 - Dan's LP JR Double Cut


Recommended Posts

You and I see different things all of the time, Scott! I immediately see (or calculate) the clamping pressure and distribution. 🤭

More importantly, a single line down the centre wouldn't apply pressure at the edges as much as the centre unless it's a sprung joint (slightly concave on one face....not reasonable at this scale or narrow width) whilst two is excellent. The ultimate bond strength (assuming perfect mating faces) will be more than adequate for the end use whereas the cosmetic glue line might be a little more visible than as not. It should still be a really fine result when it comes out of the clamps and is cleaned up.

You'd be surprised how many people in industry aren't aware of how to run the numbers either you know. People are surprised how seamless my joins are when laminating and think I'm crazy for using 60 F-clamps and noting that 90 would be better. 😄

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Prostheta said:

You and I see different things all of the time, Scott! I immediately see (or calculate) the clamping pressure and distribution. 🤭

More importantly, a single line down the centre wouldn't apply pressure at the edges as much as the centre unless it's a sprung joint (slightly concave on one face....not reasonable at this scale or narrow width) whilst two is excellent. The ultimate bond strength (assuming perfect mating faces) will be more than adequate for the end use whereas the cosmetic glue line might be a little more visible than as not. It should still be a really fine result when it comes out of the clamps and is cleaned up.

You'd be surprised how many people in industry aren't aware of how to run the numbers either you know. People are surprised how seamless my joins are when laminating and think I'm crazy for using 60 F-clamps and noting that 90 would be better. 😄

Whereas I, at first employing my 'proper' engineering qualifications, would start by trying to calculate how many clamps of what type would  be necessary. 

But soon, realising that I never actually did understand the 'proper' engineering I was taught, I would probably revert to my more usual approach of employing 'popular' engineering and just hitting the thing with a bl**dy big hammer enough times for it to assume roughly the correct shape while being clamped with clothes pegs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, Prostheta said:

You and I see different things all of the time, Scott! I immediately see (or calculate) the clamping pressure and distribution. 🤭

I actually do wonder about that every time I see a string of Irwins too......after the marching hammer thing.:D But I says to myself, Carl will pick up on that end of the subject. I like to use two inch thick cauls and crank the piss out of heavy clamps applying the cone of pressure rule for the spacing. Irwins on something as thin as a fretboard always worries me, because I can't squeeze them anywhere near as tight as I can crank a C-clamp. On the other hand I've seen many guys line them up on the fretboard just like @Norris did hear and get perfectly lovely glue joints so it must work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, Prostheta said:

Quick clamps only develop a couple of hundred PSI. Nothing to be scared of.

I'm assuming a couple hundred PSI is enough....as long as it covers all the square inches?

What would be the minimum PSI that you could expect to get an invisible glue line from, assuming your prep work is adequate and typical as opposed to perfectly mated surfaces?

SR

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Depends on the softest of the two woods, the direction of cut and thickness. I aim for 200-400 from the softest to the hardest hardwoods, which is the simplest way to view the numbers. Realistically, quarter to half of ideal gets you an optimal bond when pressure is distributed evenly with cauls and beyond there it's all about cosmetics. Some woods show it more than others as well.

Khaya for example, is excellent at 200-250PSI. Invisible joins are easy. Consider a body blank at 16" x 1,5" or 24in of area. That's 4800-6000lbs, or 5-6 big heavy duty F-clamps. Three good table bar clamps. Half of that still gets you a result, quarter maybe not so. Up those values to neck blank, top or fingerboard area and the numbers go up a lot because of surface area.

If the join isn't critical - such as a top - you can concentrate pressure around the visible seam to get the best appearance whilst getting "what you can" in the middle where quarter-half is adequate but not ideal. A fingerboard benefits from even and adequate pressure of course.

Does this make things clear as mud? 😁

Link to comment
Share on other sites

norris, your work is really something else.  I read your thread in reverse from this last pick and was like... how did he cut that body like that with the neck underlay... mystery solved.  looking at it I never would have guessed it was a sep piece.  small detail but executed like a pro.  nice job. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

The workshop has been closed for a couple of weeks for repairs to the extraction system. We were back last night so I put an initial rough radius on the board. I have an inlay to do at the 12th fret, so this will do for now.

A straight edge, flat caul with 80 grit stuck on with CA, and a radius gauge (old skool again)...

20181120_075824.thumb.jpg.6b308ccc0d8d557cb8249f6bcdecd315.jpg

20181120_075856.thumb.jpg.bd5c3e383f5173eedebdd3508babe765.jpg

I also started tidying and trimming the shoulders of the headstock on the spindle sander

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I may have mentioned previously that I am currently spending 2 hours a week building this guitar. This week's thrilling instalment is... erm...

Drilling 2 holes

20181126_204751.thumb.jpg.a81d7b80248421690e18dccf231d554d.jpg

There again, they are quite important holes. For now they are "hogged out" with a 10mm forstener bit until such time as I can find a 1/2" drill bit. I'm sure there's one somewhere amongst my uncle's old stuff. Probably all Whitworth though 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

nice, got yer stud holes in.  Your progress is probably on parr with mine... I keep thinking my finish is ready and then burning through and building up again.  Last night I was about to say screw it and shoot some poly but I walked away and this am started building it again. 

Looking at your build I keep thinking "a lp double cut IS something I could use".  Looking very nice.  (one of everything please)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well at least it might give inspiration to the casual lurker who thinks they haven't got time to build a guitar. You can put whatever time you can spare into it. Just keep chipping away. 

Once I've finished rebuilding the engine I'll hopefully be able to speed things up a bit. Gigging at the weekend regularly doesn't help with either 

Thanks for the encouragement folks :)

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There are two types of people. Well, maybe more, but two types I'll describe here.

One type (like me) says, "I only have two hours to work on the guitar this week, I better rush everything."

The other type (like Norris) says, "I only have two hours to work on the guitar this week, I'm going to drill two holes as perfectly as I can."

I need to be more like Norris.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, one quick and cheap Ebay purchase later, we have a 1/2" drill bit. And we have some correct sized holes

20181203_191156.thumb.jpg.bd8bae74ec0231b00cc046bfbcb91994.jpg

Although the body wood looks mahogany-ish, it's relatively less dense - lighter and softer. I can't remember the name of it. To make sure the inserts sit firmly I wicked CA around the holes (the above picture was before the CA wicking)

Then it was pretty straightforward to clamp my template on and route the bridge pickup cavity. The depth was adjusted to the neck angle - 15mm this time. 

20181203_202926.thumb.jpg.92b6d37a4f00ee7c9c8dd4c70d9a1042.jpg

(Only the pickup covers shown there. I've not sunk them that deep!)

Now you may be wondering what that small hole is doing just in front of the bridge pickup. Erm, it's a slight miscalculation screwing the template to the body blank when I first shaped it. Oh well. There are options though, depending on which finish we settle on. If painted solid colour, I'll plug it and it will be blended with the grain filling. Whether painted or not there's a fair chance it will have a scratch plate covering it. Personally my preferred option is to stay with a natural/dyed finish, and I have something in mind for that option too :)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...