Had my first plate joining experience last night

[enalnitram]

and, y'know, it wasn't that big of a deal. I had built it up in my mind as being really difficult, or beyond my experience or my limited tool collection.

I used flatsawn cherry that came from a tree that blew down on my father in law's land about 20 years ago. the flatsawn cherry is my guinea pig wood for my first scratch built guitar. (I'm also interested to know what a guitar built with lowbudget, flatsawn and blemishy wood will sound like).

I think I'm beginning to realize that the whole trick to succeeding at many of these luthiery tasks, is just a lot of making sure that your tools are sharp and that your jigs are accurate.

so I got my plane good and sharp, and set up as well as I could.

I got the surfaces of the joint straight, and then ran the plane the whole length, both at one time.

I have a piece of extruded aluminum that I attached sandpaper to, with spray adhesive. when I had tiny gaps near the ends, I hit the whole length on a shooting board. and after a few passes, I had a gapless joint. so I then used tape to glue the joint. added wax paper and weight on top, left it over night, and I now have a joined back for a flatsawn cherry guitar!

Next, I plan to make a style 28 back strip out of veneer for the next back to join, which is walnut...

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Congratulations Martin!
I think you are really going to enjoy doing this one.
I have not used the tape method yet to join a top or back. If the joint is perfect (which it should be) before gluing, I can see how this method might be adequate. I have some cherry to build with too, not yet knowing what it will be made into. Perhaps I will use it for my crossover nylon string I'd like to make.

Kevin

[enalnitram]

Thanks Kevin. I was thinking I would build an OM with the cherry but maybe I will get really far out with it and try Kasha bracing or sumpin'.

[enalnitram]

[Tony_in_NYC]

Excellent work Mr. Lane. I have a bunch of scrap to practice on. I joined two head plate veneers, but those were easy and small. A whole top or back plate is something I have yet to attempt.

[David L]

That sure is some gorgeous wood, being flat sawn allows some cool grain patterns that are rare with quarter sawn.

David L

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Looooooking Goooooooood Martin.

Kevin

[Ken Hundley]

Very cool wood, and nice job on the joining too!

[enalnitram]

joined this yesterday. a cedar top for my #6. western red cedar. the back and sides will be peruvian walnut. the back will have a decorative center strip and I'll join that next.


this is my candle.


and here's my plane, the garage sale special.

[johnnparchem]

Thanks for posting, I tuned my plane, and bought the wood for a shooting board I plan to make this weekend to join my first top at home. The top joint look so good, you might want to notch the top and bottom and the center line so that you can find it after do some sanding.