CGHbuilder86 Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 What is the best way to thin acoustic guitar woods very close to the finished dimensions? I’ve been planing the wood with a wagner-t-safe planer in my drill press, and then sanding to the finished dimensions with a porter cable random orbit sander, when I can’t have them thinned from the supplier. This method works ok but if the wood is warped a little your in trouble. I’ve also done a little hand planing, but when it comes to hardwoods for the back and sides, it’s tough. Cost is also an important matter. Cost is always an important matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Cost is also an important matter. Cost is always an important matter. Well, I was gonna say one of these, like I'm gonna get, but if cost is a matter, the way you are doing it is all I can suggest, or find a local luthier, or furniture manufacturer and ask nicely if they can machine your wood for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGHbuilder86 Posted August 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 That is an extremely nice sander. I would love to have one, but sometimes for me it’s just to hard to let go of that kind of money for one tool. I guess the lower cost stationary planers are pretty useless for this kind of work. Right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Rosenberger Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 We have that sander at the shop. A word of advice, don't buy it. the belts dont like to stay wrapped around the drum and when a 100 grit sanding belt flies off it can wreck a nice piece of wood. If you can afford it get a wide belt sander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 I guess the lower cost stationary planers are pretty useless for this kind of work. Right? Which brand are you referring to? I have a Rigid 13" planer (from Home Depot) and love it. It's still pretty expensive though - about $400. The sander looked like it was $1000 so it would be more affordable. There are some jobs that are better suited to using a sander rather than a planer so I don't know if the one I mentioned would be right for you or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 I'm quite sure you can thin wood like you want to, just fine with a router/planer jig described in this section several months back. thin warped wood is really no problem since you can hold the piece down with double-stick tape (carpet or window seal tape) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 We have that sander at the shop. A word of advice, don't buy it. the belts dont like to stay wrapped around the drum and when a 100 grit sanding belt flies off it can wreck a nice piece of wood. Man, that's tough...$1000 bucks down the drain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 you don't want to use a thickness planer with spruce tops, it will tear it to badly, same with a lot of figured woods, it tears the grain, a thickness sander is the best tool for the job, either that or hand planes and lots of elbow grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdog Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 I have 2 Performax drum sanders...a single drum 22in and a dual drum 37in....These are great machines to have......I've never had a belt fly off.....and they are in constant use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucky1 Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 (edited) Edited September 19, 2004 by lucky1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 There's lots of discussion on the MIMF, in the forum section, then in the archived library discussions(you need to register to view those) about building homemade thickness sanders. However, for a job that need to be so precise, I wood prefer to buy one myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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