Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all!
o.k, so how do you call those "steel spreaders" so many of you use along with your molds?
and are there specific types?
specific/reccomended places to get them?



thaks,
Udi.

Udi, those are called turn buckles. Here in the states, any hardware store will have them. I'm not sure about your neck of the woods.
If you can't find anything locally, check out MaMaster Carr
I'm sure they have them.

They are generally used hardware for tightening diagonal braces on gates, things like screen doors, legs on large utility tables, tightening cable diagonal supports and such.  In the guitar, they are used in reverse of their normal use.  They usually come in many sizes and various lengths.  They can be found in most hardware stores or do it yourself home centers.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Udi.

Turn buckles are usually used to tighten cables or wires ( not as spreaders),so you might find them where fence supplies are sold.

Dean

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Dean

Sorry Waddy,I was typing as you posted.

Dean

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Dean

That's OK, I didn't think of a fence installer.  Good idea.  Almost every chain link fence gate has one, and the gate support posts often have them.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

You could make your own with a threaded rod, aluminum tube, a washer and wingnut.

I've had good luck using 2 pieces of all-thread and a long nut to link the two. After I get the box closed up, I loosen the wingnuts at the side cauls. Then I loosen the wingnut in the middle and turn the long nut until the two pieces of all-thread are apart. Makes it easy to take everything out through the soundhole after the box is closed.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Forgot to include the pic:

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Over here, turnbuckles are also sold at boat supply shops, but they are more expensive and fancy than the hardware store variety.

The simplest type of spreader I know of is a go bar. If you make it flat and wide it can also be shaped to fit the curvature of the waist or the bouts, or you can shape cauls that fit the rims and put the go bar between those.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

yep, thats kindda what i was doing until now.
just feeling the need to "jig up" a bit...

thanks guys!

Udi if you go the turn buckle route and need a longer reach (lower bout) then the standard turn buckles afford keep in mind that one side of the turn buckle has left hand threads.  One you know this you won't buy the wrong "eye" pieces like someone I know did.......