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Oak Veneer back and sides?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 9:29 am
by prdad
Hi All

I've recently been gifted a pile of bookmatched oak veneers by a friend who had no use for them.

I'm wondering if I could create a ply from them for the sides and back on a Single O I have in mind building. They are 1mm thick, 240mm wide and 1440mm long. My thoughts are that I could create the side structure without heat from the mould. I'm wondering if the tension created by the traditional heat and moisture shaping creates a tonal 'ping' like a tuned drum skin.

If it wouldnt create a dog of a thumper would going with the grain or crossing the ply be favourable?

Heres a pic of said veneer. The medullary rays you can see in the shaded area carry on throughout the piece.

Re: Oak Veneer back and sides?

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 11:01 am
by tippie53
there is a lot of opinion on this stress but in my experience of wood working and guitar building I don't think it does. After about 2 weeks the wood will become static to the shape. the only thing I would say is sudden stresses caused by RH changes may affect the guitars tone but not from the bending of the wood. The same would be of the top and back with braces. As the RH changes this braces hold the plates from moving , this stress is relieved in the plates moving up and down .
If allowed to go to far you can pop a glue joint or loosen braces. A worse case would be a crack. Be aware of RH as you build.
Many builder laminate the back and sides.