Official Luthiers Forum!

I saw on Facebook Market Place where a guy was selling live edge slabs, 8/4. Finally decided to go visit his place. When I got there, he had just finished cutting these. Branch crotch, not main trunk. Omg. This gonna be fun.

Just right for some solidbody action.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

It almost already looks like a Flying-V

Don't think I'm going to do electrics with this. Maybe.

I would definitely be capitalizing on the sapwood!

Chicken.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

That looks like (or very near it) heartwood and, pretty as it is, will be awfully unstable at acoustic guitar thicknesses. Better for gunstocks or electric bodies (as others have alluded to). Flat sawed wood and acoustic guitars are rarely a good mix. But then again, there are just some things in life you have to learn for yourself (I know I have).

Beautiful slab. Alternatively, let that thing dry for a couple years, flatten it, throw some prefab steel legs on and slap a few coats of oil on it and you’ll have a table that’s likely worth more than a guitar. [WINKING FACE]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Aaron Craig

Aaron is right. All I see when I look at it is cracks...

So u think it is good for solid bodies?

Ain't no doubt about it. YES.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Depends on how they are dried...

Gorgeous. I'd turn it into a sweet coffee table or table top myself. Usually slabs like that require a bowtie or two after they dry out.

Sometimes you can stabilize the curly crotch wood by saturating it with superglue. The fine hairline cracks will swell shut and when it is at acoustic guitar thickness the thin superglue will wick all the way through in the end grain areas. I've done a few dulcimer backs that way and they seemed to hold up O.K.
Still, it's somewhat risky, and the finished product is not particularly strong.

I see a beautiful one piece acoustic back in your future. I would go with including some of the sap wood. It is really outstanding. Once completely dry, walnut is pretty stable, less so for the sap wood. I would do as you mentioned with ca and maybe even a thin backing plate (maybe paper backed veneer, but only enough to cover the sap wood, on the inside of course.)

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I've used flat sawn walnut for 2 guitars with no problems but not with anything like that figure. I'd try it just because it would look so good if it worked out. Just build the box and set it on the shelf for a while. I just finished one guitar that I started 2 years ago so it wouldn't be a big deal for me. Other alternative would be to cut and brace the back then just set it aside to see how it does.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

A crotch walnut dulcimer that I made in 2001. Was a gun stock reject, had one crack that I filled with epoxy, has not had a crack since. I say, seal the ends, let it dry, resaw and build!


Not sure if the image showed up or not, here's a link https://www.facebook.com/WildMeadowDulc ... =3&theater

Y’all are killing me. Tomorrow I’m gonna end paint and sticker the two slabs. I agree, it can be unstable. I’ve successfully built two from similar, bot lots of back bracing etc. we will see. Trying to do my part in using interesting domestic

Bwak!!

Let is sit for 5-10 years and see how it cracks into it's 'natural' state. I would probbaly not consider making acoustics with is but who knows? I've made acoustics with knotty wood that no one else would ever use too. Just depends on what kind of project you are working on. Lamination is always a good way to stabilize burls and curls.

Seriously? That’s not happening. lol

What u are looking at is an amazing piece of domestic walnut. I feel I can stabilize this chunk. And I agree in its raw form, not a good idea. We will see. I really like challenges and searching domestics. Stay tuned on this one.

Come on guys. Let’s try stuff.

Not sure of the dimensions, but this is what I see...

One slab for sides, one for backs? Gotta be a way in there somewhere for some. With the live edges like that, surely the outer edges are near quarter?

Someone told me that you should cut to thickness right away.
Reason behind it was cracks / checks seem propagate in a stiff slabs quicker than flexible plate size slices.
He is a knowledgeable man and I certainly didn't want to loose my coco billet to cracks so I did as he said.... no cracks.
Just a thought.

_________________
Wake up and smell the rosewood!

Whatever you do please post pics along the way. I’d love to see what happens


A friend has given me two large, old black walnut logs. Just got to get the cut properly for acoustic builds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have 5 large walnut slabs FWIw they are 2.5in thick I used a polymer end grain sealer in 2014. Rule of thumb to get to EMQ in AL is about 3/4in per yr or 3 to 4 yrs for a 2.5in slab to dry properly, then resaw. My results resawing green walnut here in KC.MO were not good. So I have decided to wait. Your results may vary depending on your location, EMQ etc.