Cutting previously bent sides to the correct width

[Jim F.]

Hi, folks: I'm in the process of building one of LMI's flamenco guitar kits. It's my first attempt and so I had LMI provide some of the basic services I thought might be a bit beyond me. Here's my problem: LMI provided bent sides for the guitar, but they are too wide. The plan calls for 96.0 mm at the bottom of the guitar, tapering to 87.0 mm at the neck, and the sides provided are 115.0 mm, tapering to 110.0 mm. So, as I consider cutting them in my band saw, I realize that this will be a bit of an awkward process because the sides are already bent. I suppose I can assemble the sides together to the neck, but this seems like a lot of wood to plane away. So, can anyone suggest a good way to get the sides to the correct dimension?

[darren]

If it were me I'd assemble the rim and plane away. It's not that much wood and will go fast. A sharp block plane, carefully used, paying attention to grain direction, (generally you'll be working tail to neck) should work just fine.

This is how both Cumpiano and Kincaid do it in their books, if i remember correctly.

[B. Howard]

I actually prefer to plane the rims to height after they are glued to the top as C & N suggest. Goes rather quickly and allows me to get things shaped just the way I want them. Also makes bending a bit easier since I use a pipe and not a Fox.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hi Jim,
Welcome to the forum. That is the way LMI provides the sides, bent but not contoured to size. Bandsawing those sides is going to be a bit risky. If you go slow with a very narrow blade it may bo okay, but one snag.....and Snap! You made have a break. Remember the grain is running the length of the side.
Get your top edges flat and glue in your end blocks with the flat side down, then measure and mark the basic contour your back is going to have from end to neck, and plane away. As the others have said, planing goes pretty fast and it is kind of enjoyable too, seeing those curls coming off. You can also you a small handsaw at this point, but I don't recommend that, it is pretty awkward to do.
Let us know how it goes, and if you are of a mind, take pics and post them too, we like seeing how everyones building is going.

Kevin