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I'm a guitar-making student in the UK and we're being taught to 'lock in' the struts/braces to the lining, so the final setup is that the brace extends almost to the rib (inside the lining) but is not glued to either lining or rib.  The justification given for this is strength.  Why would strength suffer if the lining were left un-notched and the brace shortened slightly to almost touch the lining?  Would there be any other effects to taking this approach?  

Hi David - It's pretty important, for strength reasons, that some of the braces be in fact "inlet" (meaning that the kerfed linings are precession notched and the brace ends pass into these notches) and glued into place.  Although different builders inlet different braces most all that I am aware of would always inlet the following and glue them into place.

1)  Upper transverse brace

2)  The two upper X-brace legs

Many builders will inlet and glue the lower X-brace legs too.

Any brace that terminates at the lining or near the linings needs to have the end tapered away to nothing to prevent a "stress riser" which might promote a future crack in that location.

I inlet the braces (1 and 2 above) and glue them into place.  My braces terminate very near the guitar sides/ribs but don't pass through them although it certainly fine to have them pass through the sides/ribs too.  Just one of the many things that there are many ways to do in guitar building.

But you will want to have at least the upper transverse brace and X legs both inlet and glued and nicely fitting them too will add to the strength.

What lutherie school do you go to and it would be great if you would share with us what you know about the program my friend?

Thanks

Whoops, I assumed that you were discussing the top.  For the back some builders do not inlet any braces although I think that most would/do.  They are sure to again taper them away to nothing to prevent stress risers.  The reason they do not inlet back braces is to promote the back's ability to slightly move and add a pumping action to the mechanics of how the guitar works.

If I recall correctly Charles Fox, one of the top builders in the world IMHO also does not inlet his back braces.

Here is an example of how some neat freak who is on this forum makes us all envious with his craftsmanship inletting back braces:

Mmmmm, who could it be.....hmmmmm, let me think....maybe.....LANCE?

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Yeah, it's LK, but DANG you have to admit that's neat work.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

[QUOTE=Latham] I'm a guitar-making student in the UK and we're being taught to 'lock in' the struts/braces to the lining, so the final setup is that the brace extends almost to the rib (inside the lining) but is not glued to either lining or rib. The justification given for this is strength. Why would strength suffer if the lining were left un-notched and the brace shortened slightly to almost touch the lining? Would there be any other effects to taking this approach?
[/QUOTE]


I think it would be a big mistake to inlet a brace and NOT glue it as it could become a rattle point.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

HI david,
I suggest you do exactly what your tutors suggest at least to start off with
and then after your first or second guitar you can start questioning there
methods and begin to use your own tecniques etc.

I am also a student studying at one of the london colleges and in my first
year i had lots of grand ideas that i wouldent even think about doing now.

Its great that you are asking questions and shows your interest and
willingness to lean but if you are at any of the good uk courses they will
be teaching you methods that that have been standard practice for many
years.

In my first year i was not allowed to use any power tools at the time. this
seemed a stupid wast of time but now i would not change it for the world
and consider it time well spent as i know that i can use my tools to the
highest standards now.

Keep asking questions its the best way to learn but also bear in mind that
your tutors may be teaching you techniques that may not be standard to
the way the next person works.

I realy hope you enjoy studying guitar building as much as i do please
keep us posted on your progress.

Joel.

Latham and Joel, where do you both study?

I started briefly at University in London (London met) and then moved up to the Manchester college of arts and technology.