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I need more better clamps. No, I just need to find a spot for my go-bar deck before I build another. I'm happy with this though. It's going to mean some extra clean up since a few of those don't have pads on them. I left the top thick, I should be able to sand it out. I really wanted this box closed this weekend so I cut a few corners and got it done.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Cutting corners is not a good way to start

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I know, but, they will have no affect on the outcome. Until I have the time in the upcoming retirement, I am more concerned with the tone and playability. These guitars are for me, and I'm well aware of how picky players can be. I'm not overly concerned at this stage.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

That is the mantra of every person that has ever had a wood shop...

Every time I walk into one of the Big Box stores and walk by the clamps that is what I say.... MORE BETTER CLAMPS!!!!

It seem with clamps the more you get the more you need.

All chime in....MORE BETTER CLAMPS!!!! MORE BETTER CLAMPS!!!! MORE BETTER CLAMPS!!!!



Cheers,
Bob

More better clamps. I love the wooden cam ones the best.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

With a short stick of wood and two pieces of cork glued to it, each clamp can apply pressure in two places. It would be interesting to make a bunch of little cam clamps with built-in jaws like that for this task... less than half the time of tightening down spool clamps, and no need to pre-set them to near their final span and keep them sorted.

IMHO you need some sort of caul, a hoop that goes around the guitar that you clamp to. I've seen lots of clever things like using tubing or lining in cork. But just putting clamps on wood like that is going to leave weak spots between each clamp as the pressure is not even.

Having said that, you'll probably be just fine too. But still, best practice is cauls to even out clamping pressure.

Before sanding out any dents the clamps may have made you may want to steam the dents using a wet cloth and a clothes iron. With luck you won't have to do much, if any, sanding.
I made a simple caul that allows for using fewer clamps and will try to post a picture when I get my poor dead computer resurrected. Right now I'm using a 4"X4"X2" mini computer that probably has more processing power than the old HP1000 I used at BRL on APG, Md. back in the 80's. It took up a whole room and the 20mb hard drive was as big as a washing machine.

I use the go bar deck, but this method would work just as well with the clamps…
I cut out quarter inch cauls the shape of the guitar. I have one forever every different shape of guitar.
They literally take five minutes to cut out on the bandsaw.
They spread the pressure out and keep it from getting dented.




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Mine are exactly like Brad’s, down to the go bar dimples I made with a twist drill bit. These work great.

I like those Brad. I just have a box of 1” strips I put around the edge on the top. Works fine but your way looks easier and I’m all for easy.


Steve

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

+1 but, of course, I CNC them…



Learned that here from either Brad or maybe Colin North. The 1/4” fiberboard has a textured side that grabs the gobars.


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Thanks for all of you comments on cauls but I'm very aware of them. Been building a long time. Sometimes I just can't be bothered. I wanted.this box closed and I got it closed. And I'm very happy about it. As I mentioned somewhere, I still haven't got my shop back completely from the HO train derailing.

Now that the box is closed, I have one more little project to complete and then the train tables/clutter are leaving. I will have a place to permanently keep my go-bar deck and a Fleishman binding jig. Possibly a SM buffing wheel. I stupidly sold the one I had when I moved to an apartment. It will only cost me 3x moree than I sold that one for.

I'm also considering a new bandsaw with resaw capability for using local woods instead of all of the fancy stuff from overseas. I don't have any plan to sell any guitars, I just want to build a bunch in my 70s. I'll give them away if I don't have the room to store them.

How did I get from cauls to here, I don't know, I'm just typing. Anyway, my next guitar,#3 will be built all in one go I believe, there's that retirement thing coming up in the spring or sooner, yay. I need to get to the lumberyard before prices get even higher.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Crap, I don't have a good place to store this box now. Should I somehow hang it from the ceiling? There aren't any holes to attach it yet. Hmm... I may have make a shelf, Pronto, otherwise I'll be kicking it all over the shop.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

If you want to hang it up just drill a hole in the neck block for a small eye bolt. It'll be gone when you put on the neck.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Put it in a soft case and hang that from the ceiling or on a wall.

Thanks, I just happen to have one somewhere.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

You didn't learn it from me ,this is the first time I have heard that.

I personally like shooting go bars across the room.....

The beauty of hanging things from the ceiling is they can develop some momentum before they hit the floor....

So true....

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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.

Hutch buddy three words "go bar deck."

I know, and I have one but don't have a place to set it up right now. I used it on my first guitar. You see I went model train crazy for a bit and used the only space I was allowed, my shop. Realizing what a stupid idea that was, It's on my list of thing to do to remove all that crap and sell it before I get any more ideas.

Then I will have a permanent place for the deck, the binding tower or Fleishman and hopefully a buffer, either home made or SM. Hey, I'm in my early stage of guitar building and most of what I had when I was building F5 mandolins is gone. I'm slowly building and buying what I need. I pretty much know the ins and outs of building with the proper tools but I just don't have them right now. But don't let that stop me. I forge ahead and deal with the rest later. For now.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

My son "cloned" my computer on to a newer, better one, so I have my picture files back. Her are some pictures of a simple clamping caul made with 1/4 inch MCP and pipe insulation that allows for clamping a top or back quickly and with fewer clamps. There is also a board placed under the opposite side to prevent marring the under surface. It might be handy for those who want to use HHG for gluing on the plates.