What size billets

[Peter LaMorte]

What size billets would you need for an F style mandolin? I would most likely use a two piece back and top. How thick a billet is what I looking for? Is the top and back the same thickness after carving?
Thanks
Peter LaM

[Michael Lewis]

Peter, get a good set of plans. The wood needs to be 5/8" thick in the center before you start carving. Well, that is if you are aiming for a traditional F style. Otherwise, there are no laws that dictate how you make a mandolin.

[Hans]

5/8" is about minimum. I like to see 3/4" after resawing. Viola planks work well. The top and back are not the same thickness at all, and there is a lot of variation between different builders.

[Red Henry]

Several years ago I bought some viola tops and backs from International Violin, and they were a good size for making an A-model. I've forgotten how they measured out for potential F-models.

Red

[Peter LaMorte]

Thanks All,
I am looking to build a F and might start with an A. I will look for a good set of plans. I have search and saw the recommendations for Adrian Minarovic plans. I also noticed that in Roger Siminoff's book The Ultimate Bluegrass Mandolin Construction Manual there are 20 full size plans. Does anyone have any experience with these plan and how do they compare with Adrian. I'm sure Adrian's are more detailed, but are the plan in the book just general in nature?
Thanks for the Help and putting up with the newbie questions, I did a search, but didn't come up with anything on the plan from the book.
Peter LaMor

[billhay4]

I think Adrian's plans are considered better, but with Siminoff you have the advantage of the wealth of detail in the book itself. You have to take some of what he says with a grain of salt, but he's a fantastic resource.
Read old posts here for some of the issues with Simnoff's methods. One issue with the first book (I'm not sure about the second edition) is that he recommends carving the inside of the top first. I don't know of anyone else who does this.
Hope this helps.
Bill

[Spruce]

"What size billets would you need for an F style mandolin?"

Hans is right about using viola wood for F5s, but that is mainly the case if you are dealing with European suppliers who tend to be quite skimpy with their resawing, and give you just enough to get the job done...

Most American suppliers of domestic wood can get the job done for violin prices....

The dimensions I mill for violin/F5 wood--for instance--are 16" x 6" x 1+" (x2).....

That 1+" thickness allows a violin maker to peel off a set of ribs that match the back exactly...

F5 builders kinda have to hope for the best in terms of a match....

Luck...