Where To Buy Custom Thicknessed Wood?

[Daniel Schmolze]

I'm planning my first guitar build, and I want the body to consist of 1 1/4" mahogany (1 or 2 piece) and a 1/2" wenge top (1 piece) with a light-colored veneer in between. I've scoured the net and eBay, but I can't seem to find someone who can supply me with those dimensions (everyone has 1 3/4" mahogany bodies and 1/4" wenge tops). Any ideas?

Thanks!

[Rick500]

Best bet is to ask whomever you're buying it from, if they can thickness it for you.

If not, be really nice to the guys at a local cabinet shop (I think the going rate is a large pizza and a six pack) and see if they'll thickness it for you.

Edit: Or if you're near Louisville, bring it on by and I'll do it for you...

Edited December 16, 2008 by Rick500

[j. pierce]

I had similar problems when I first started woodworking until I realized that lumber vendors often measure by quarters - so instead of marking a piece as 1 1/4" thick, they mark it is 5/4 lumber.

My local lumber merchant sells most of their "exotics", (including wenge) in 1/2" thick slabs. Are there any local wood places by you? If so, give them a call. I like dealing locally - I can't always get those super nice figured maple pieces, but I save a lot of money on shipping. Many places will be willing to thickness pieces for a small price as well. I was surprised how much cool wood was available local to me - perhaps you'll be as lucky too.

[guitar_player]

If your building a guitar you have a router right? You can thickness very easily with it. Set up 2 sticks of wood thicker than the wood to be thicknessed on the sides, doublestick tape a longer piece of wood to your router base and rout till it's the right thickness. I do this with smaller things when I have to remove a lot of wood (hedadstocks, backplates, truss rod covers) sice it's faster and easier than my planer.

[nuge67]

Best bet is to ask whomever you're buying it from, if they can thickness it for you.

If not, be really nice to the guys at a local cabinet shop (I think the going rate is a large pizza and a six pack) and see if they'll thickness it for you.

Edit: Or if you're near Louisville, bring it on by and I'll do it for you...

that is the going rate, or just a 12 pack even. Personally I don't drink anymore so a couple of pizza's would do it.

Edited December 16, 2008 by nuge67

[Daniel Schmolze]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll call the local lumber places and see what the story is. The router idea also seems like a good one. I'm new to guitar building, and eventually I imagine I'll buy the tools to do thicknessing myself, but for now I'm trying to keep expenses down and farm out where necessary.