Stew-mac side wood

[Brookside]

I bought the A5 plans offered by Stew-mac. #I've also ordered the A5 plans offered by Siminoff but don't have them yet. #I noticed that the side wood length would have to be a minimum of 34 1/2" (preferably 36") in order to build from the Stew-mac A5 plans. #I had some of the Stew-mac side wood laying around and came to find out that they are only 28" to 30" long. #I came up to check their site and they don't seem to offer mandolin side wood any longer than this. #I sent an inquiry but of course will have to wait until monday to hear back from them. #

Has anyone ever bought side wood from them that was long enough to build from the A5 plans that they sell?

I just checked the Siminoff site and noticed that the A5 rim set he offers in is two pieces with a seam at the tail-piece. I just assumed that this model would be bent in one singe piece with no seam. Am I mistaken in this line of thought? Do most, many, or any A5's have a seam in the rim at the tailpiece? Hmmm, I really shoud get out and look at a few mandolins if I think I want to build them. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Yonkle]

The A5 do have a seam at the tail joint (2 pieces) F5 have 5 pieces counting the little piece and the lower point. JD

[samuel]

the ones i have seen were 2 pieces... i am sure there are 1 piece rims out there.

[Chris Baird]

Most A-style sides are 2 piece joined at the tailblock. You need 2 21" pieces.

[crawdad]

I just did an A rim and used one piece. I didn't want to deal with the whole joining at the tailblock thing. Its not that I'm smarter, its that I'm unskilled in that procedure and just decided to bypass it! I had side material that was long enough. Maybe next time around I will use shorter sides and do a joined pair.

[Brookside]

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and did two piece sets. I was thinking of putting a thin strip of ebony or something at the seam.

I'm curious though Crawdad, where did you get the side wood that was long enough?

[Luthier]

If you need some in the future, I have some. #I use it for my banjo resonator rims. #

Don

[Chris Baird]

Making the join is pretty easy. #Just make sure each end is perfectly square and angled right. #Then overlap them about 1/8" and put some strong masking tape across them. #Then bend them out so the edges touch and bring them into position. #The tension on the tape is all that is needed to clamp the ends together. #After that is dry then just glue the block on in your usuall fashion. #You can achieve an almost invisible seam there especially with the tailpiece covering most of it.

[crawdad]

I'm curious though Crawdad, where did you get the side wood that was long enough?
I went out to local lumberyard and found a board of flame maple 2"x6"x6 feet. I cut a couple of neck blanks and used the rest as sides.

Mandoplyr---Thanks for the tips!