Official Luthiers Forum!

Thanks guys - you convinced me AND more importantly educated me.

So I got out my genuine Todd Stock reconditioned Record #5 and wham, bam with about 20 strokes (the edges were very rough) and stuck it in the window to candle it.  Low and behold this is the first time I got it right on the first go - no gaps!!!!!!!

Seizing the positive momentum I'll let the pics tell the rest of the story:

This is what the squirrel claw top is going on.



And out comes the Stew-Mac brown tape.



Wipe up the HHG squeeze out.



Waxed paper on top.



And some high-tech, NASA approved, Mil-spec pressure application apparatus.



Whew - I'm tired now but happy.

Many thanks for everyone's very valued help!!!!

Hesh that is a nice top you have there.

when i first bought a top with bear claw in it i sent back complaining that
it had wavey grain the vendor refused to chage it saying light bearclaw
was allowed in his AAA alpine spuce so i was stuck with it.
I built my first guitar with that top all the time thinking it had wavey
grain.
It wasent until it was finished that someone said to me "ohh i like the
little spots of bear claw" whilst pointing to the wavy grain section.
I now love this top with the baer claw being realy subtle.
Most of all it sounds out standing but i think that has more to with the
"mistakes" i made than the top.

the moral being that even though it doesent seem quite right to you now
doesent mean its noy going to turn out to be a beauty.

A little trick for checking for run out on a raw top get a small electric
lamp and shine it on the top with both peices together so you can see a
band of light across the two peices if the light is higher on one peice than
the other you have run out. if they are in the same place you have a run
out free top.
This works with all tops bearclaw or not.

You have a nice peice of sitka there i am sure you will turn it into
wondrfull instrument.
Good luck,
Joel.

The University of Alabama Ag Experimental Station did comprehensive studies and compilation of other studies in wood figure. I managed to snag the last hard copy they had and it's not in print any longer. They classified bear claw in the indented ring class of wood figure. Here's part of it as written by them...scroll down to the bear claw part:

Figure Related to Indented Growth Rings

        A third type of figure that is recognized originates from indented growth rings. In this class fall such figures as dimple, birdseye, and indented ring or “bear scratches.” For unknown causes certain specimens of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, sugar maple, Sitka spruce, birch, and mahogany exhibit reduced growth in localized circular or lenticular areas that, continued year after year in the same location, results in circular or lenticular depressions in the wood (figures 30 and 31).
        Indented ring figures affect only the tangential surface but differ from other figure types affecting this surface (blister figures) because they are formed primarily by sharp, conical, or lenticular depressions indented toward the pith. This contrasts with blister figure, where major affected areas bulge toward the bark.

        Dimple Indentations in growth rings that create numerous localized, conical depressions that are small and shallow (usually less than one growth ring), are termed dimples (17). Tangential surfaces of wood from lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) characteristically exhibit dimples (Figure 32), which are useful in identification.

        Birdseye Indentations that create less numerous localized, conical depressions that are larger and deeper (usually one or more growth rings), are termed birdseyes. Birdseye of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the best known of indented ring figures (Figure 33). Birdseye figure has been reported in a number of other species including ash, walnut, and birch; in Cuban mahogany (Sweitenia mahogani), it takes the form of a giant birdseye (59).
        Birdseye figure in sugar maple apparently occurs rather commonly but is well developed only in localized areas of the stem. Veneer manufacturers report that this figure may disappear completely as peeling progresses and reappear in different stem areas (11).
        Split sections of birdseye-figured sugar maple show sharp, conical indentations in the tangential surface. These indentations seldom exceed one-sixteenth inch in depth, usually occur in a random pattern, and may vary considerably in size and distribution among trees. Birdseye frequently occurs in combination with wavy or curly grain, which enhances the appearance. A characteristic of birdseye figure is its continuation along the same radius for a number of years. Birdseye figure is formed as a result of local suppressions in divisions of cambial tissues that cause indentations to develop. This retardation effect continues for several growing seasons and produces an indented conical depression.

        Bear Scratches Indented growth rings in the form of elongated or lenticular depressions are termed “bear scratches.” Bear scratches occur most commonly in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The term is derived from the appearance of lighter colored tissues that form longitudinal streaks on the tangential face. For many years, such streaks were thought to be caused by animal claw injury.

Thanks Joel your story sounds a lot like mine.  Since I have never seen bear claw before, in person and in the white, I had no idea what it should look like.

This is a good example of what happens to guitar builders who were not wood workers prior and know very little about wood......  But I am trying hard to play catch-up now.

And regardless it's about time to do another black topped guitar.....

Thanks Larry - great stuff.  Recently on another forum you were described by a member as being probably the most knowledgeable guy on the planet about wood!!!