Cleaning up the inside of the rim

[btberlin]

In order to get the contour of the rim right, i used two Kraft paper copies of a template given in the construction drawings. After bending the cocobolo sides, i glued the templates to the inside of the rim using my trusty can of 3M type 77 adhesive, applied to the templates only.

After the sides were contoured, and the measurements (top to back edges of the rim) verified every inch against the printed template, i needed to peel the Kraft paper off. Well - it mostly comes off clean, but some spots stuck to the coco, and there was some transfer of the goo to the coco.

I used a cabinet scraper, some Goo Gone, citrus cleaner and a razor blade as a scraper to remove the junk, but the rim wasn't clean enough to pass even casual inspection if someone were to look into the sound hole. So, I used a 60-grit flapwheel (the kind that has every other flap made of purple scotchbrite) chucked into my dewalt drill, to clean off the remaining residue and white pencil markings. Came nice and clean, but, i didn't like the feel yet, so swapped the 60-grit for a 180 grit flap wheel. A few passes back and forth, and the inside of the rim is clean and smooth as a whistle. The photo shows what it looks like.

[Kevin Waldron]

For future reference.......Lacquer thinner will usually remove contact cements..... like 77, 90 and others.

Blessings,

Kevin

[btberlin]

Yes, I'm sure it will. It's great stuff. Also flashes off fast, forms an explosive mix with air, and strips the oils out of human skin. It will probably not be too good for nitrile gloves. I work in an enclosed space without enough ventilation for lacquer thinner, and a gas water heater a few feet away. I generally choose to avoid noxious, volatile and explosive solvents in my shop. When using them is unavoidable, i move into the garage, or, if it isn't raining continuously, as it has been for a couple of weeks now at the Jersey shore, even outdoors. I do have a quart can of lacquer thinner but seldom open it, choosing instead, less noxious means of doing what i need. Hence the GooGone and citrus cleaner. It worked, it was a lot more work, but, for my environment, it was a better choice. For others it may be a better choice to use lacquer thinner. For me, not so much. Others may profit from the comment, though so thank you.

bert