www.KitGuitarsForum.com

StewMac kit, starting with the cardboard mold process.
Built four jigs, required to get started, and still haven't started.
"Starting" may be the hardest thing I encounter!

I'll be anxious to know how effective the cardboard mold system works. I never thought of an inside mold. How do you glue the side struts into the guitar with this mold system?

Before you place the side struts, you've already done top and bottom kerffing and glued the top on. You remove the center mold and discard it, its work is done. You now glue up the side struts. Pretty interesting...

the big issue I have with the cardboard is that you have to remove it to close the box and you loose control of the neck block so be sure to pay attention to these details.

Kbore wrote:Before you place the side struts, you've already done top and bottom kerffing and glued the top on. You remove the center mold and discard it, its work is done. You now glue up the side struts. Pretty interesting...

Okay, so you're gluing the struts just before closing the box. I understand. Like John pointed out, even with the sides and the top or back glued, the sides can easily shift slightly without the mold in place, so you can end up with a guitar without parallel sides. You'll do fine, just be careful to make sure the back goes on straight.

I saw a friend who had this problem with one of her guitars....:)

The kerfing should stiffen the sides enough so they don't distort when you take the mold out...but it can happen. If you use reverse kerfing, it should reduce the chances, as reverse kerfing makes a very stiff structure.

Thank you for the advice. I will be sure to carefully check the sides after removal of the inside mold. I've already noted a very a slight "racking" of the sides after the blocks are glued on.

Must add text

Photo of the day

I'll be following your progress. I am close to starting my first builds.