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Hello there!
Does anyone here have any experience using/making the Radius Sanding Jig in Graham McDonnald's book and mind explaining it in better detail?
Or does anyone have any better suggestions for sanding the radius on the bracing to match the 15' radius on a flat top and back?
Thanks in advance!
I'm not familiar with the jig from the book. I have made radius sanding jigs and cauls by taking a length of string staked on one end in my yard, pencil on the other end at the appropriate distance and draw it on your wood. Cut it carefully on a bandsaw and clean up with a spindle sander.
If a radius dish is needed, I would spend the $70-80 to buy a pre-made one. LMI will custom make an odd radius for a little extra, but a 15' is a common one.
I draw out large radii on the computer, print them out, glue the drawing down, and cut out the shape. I use QCad to make the drawing. It's been awhile since I made a couple of radius dishes and I don't remember my exact procedure. I made them out of 2 layers of MDF and dished them using a router and a curved jig that straddled the disc. It wasn't too difficult, but very messy. I cut them outdoors. MDF dust everywhere.
An advantages of the radius dishes as described in the book are simplicity, cost and lack of a cloud of MDF dust. The original idea was not mine, it came originally from John Calkin, one of the editorial staff for American Lutherie and they work.
Cheers
Thanks for the replies!
I have made myself a radius dish already (I opted for the big cloud of MDF :)) )
The radish sanding jig I'm talking about is the one that puts the 15' radius into the bracing. Where it uses a disc sander - For the life of me I just can't wrap my head around it. I may end up using a router with a flush bit, but would rather not if I don't have to.
Thanks again!
The last time I made guitar braces, I cut the brace curves close to final dimension on the bandsaw and then used the radius dish with taped down sandpaper to final shape the brace.