Iv "a" mandolin kit

[Dennis Russell]

I have a IV "A" mandolin kit, I have had it quite a while, the kit already has the sound board glued to ribs,makes it difficult to measure thickness of sound board with caliper device. because ribs are in the way but OK if turned over and checking inside, but I am curious should I graduate the wood on the inside or outside, I have several finger planes to use, hard to do this with ribs on doing the inside, no problem outside, If I use scrapers I have a whole set from IV , what angle should I apply to cutting edge................Dennis in Az

[MikeEdgerton]

You might take a tour through these (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=Search&CODE=02&SID=4814ad16165242d3) threads. Other than the recurve, most everyone I recall did it from the inside.

[Dennis Russell]

Dear sir,, I looked through those pages but nothing being specific on what I asked for, mostly concerned with using finger plane on inside of a partially already assembled mandolin is a difficult procedure for me. I dont think I want to remove the plate from the ribs in order to get better access. I also wanted to know what procedure to use with scrapers, I have a brand new set I bought from IV . I used to use broken glass as scrapers but it is hazardous I already cut my self several times on other projects., I am trying to learn the corect way. I also just bought a Thickness caliper from Stew Mac supply, I am not sure if it is in increments of Metric or standard or are there any instructions on how to use it.
I made a wood caliper from years past out of ice cream sticks, like in a "C" configuration each had its degree of thickness and I labeled each, I made about ten of them, almost like a inside feeler gauge a Go no go device. I would simply slide it over the area that was in concern, if it didnt go that meant I had to take away more wood using a flat chisel or gouge and broken glass to scrape with,,I used a lot of sandpaper on a hub on a drill press. I successfully built four arch top mandolins this way but, at that time funds are limited so I used yankee ingenuity to gain results. I got my tax refund and decided to invest it into some worth while tools, now all I need is some good orderly direction, I have the Building a bluegrass mandolin book, I have two of them I think the last one is the same as the first I got in 1994 or do I stand to be corrected
Thank you everyone so kindly for any help Dennis Russell
Yuma, Arizona,, where the sun is always hot and dry and 100 degrees at midnight sometimes...............

[mandolinplucker]

I have built a few of these kits. I get the outside looking like I want. When shaping the recurve,make sure not to get it too thin. After you get the shape you want;do your graduating on the inside. I make mine .150/.160 in the middle and .100/.110 in the recurve. Some use finger planes, scrapers, orbital sanders or combinations of them. What works for me is a sanding disk on my drill press like Siminoff uses in his book. I have built one from scratch ( havent strung it up yet) and it is easier to work the top without it being glued to the sides but you can work around it.