Official Luthiers Forum!

Here’s a little trick I have been using for a long time when cutting brace ends to length while fitting a top or back. I was doing that today and shot a picture.

Protect the blade of an XActo razor saw with binding tape leaving a small cutting area and you can saw almost through the brace without worrying about damaging the top or back. Complete the cut with a blade and pop off the end with a chisel.
You have be a little careful as you can crease spruce with the tape if you really lean into it.

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Neat.
I've just started using a Hosco brace saw (convex) for my brace ends.
Just cut until I feel the glue, chisel off the nub and then use hot water to remove the glue and any traces of wood remaining

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Nice Mac Ebony (assume...) there Terrance!

Great tip.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks Rod. Actually it is some great Brazilian from fellow forum member Hans Brentrup

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Wow! Super dark... can't wait to see more of that one...

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Does anyone use a veneer saw for this task? I have one, but I have not tried it for this yet (I have only used it for its intended purpose). Veneer saws have thin, convex blades, so I was thinking it would be a good tool for avoiding the collateral damage a flat saw blade can cause.

I have used a veneer saw and it works well. I put a little piece of blue tape on either side of the brace and when the blade hits the tape, the convexity? of the blade means it is through enough. Cheap and available. You can even buy just the blade and screw it through the holes onto a stick:

https://www.amazon.com/Kunz-Veneer-Saw-Replacement-Blade/dp/B0034YUVM6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1541595173&sr=8-7&keywords=veneer+saw

Ed

Thanks, Ed. I own two of them; I look forward to devoting one to this task. I always seem to nick the soundboard when using a regular, flat blade razor saw.

I used to use a veneer saw, but now use an oscillating tool with a half moon blade. I've found a multitude of uses for that tool.

I use one of these which I found recently on eBay. https://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk/ac ... y_Saw.html
It was new and less than half the listed price. I was the only one who bid for it.

Nice tip Terence ... thanks for posting