Cuban Mahogany and Lutz Spruce 00

[johnnparchem]

I profile the top and back to about 1/4" larger than my outline before I put any braces on. It is a lot easier cutting a flat board.

[Jim_H]

Ditto what John said. No reason not to profile the back before bracing.

As I get more comfortable with my bandsaw skills I get closer and closer to the line. This last time I was probably between 1/8" and 1/4 all the way around (less to route off that way :p ).

[Ken Hundley]

I would definitely leave at least 1/4" all the way around....as the top is radiused, it will pull those edges in....you don't want to be short! Leave a little. It won't hurt the router.

[Darryl Young]

Oh now you tell me!! <smile> I've cut it out now and got a little closer than I planed in a couple of places. I never got inside the line but I sure wasn't thinking about the radius adding a bit of width/lenght <duh>. I probably be fine with binding and a purfling line even after the radius is added but I sure should have considered that when while cutting.

[Jim_H]

I had a bad experience on my first guitar when I had a large overhang when trying to route the back flush to the sides... The router grabbed big chunk and tossed it across the shop.

I've found that keeping the overhang to minimum makes trimming it back a little less stressful. =)

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I agree with Jim, it does seem more reasonable to keep that overhang to no more than 3/8", and less if possible. Depending on the type wood, it can split on you too.

Kevin

[tippie53]

use a flush trim bit for final size allow a certain oversizing till you get things together,. it is easier to make smaller than larger.

[Darryl Young]

It's a top and not a back.......but if you feel froggy, get you a rotozip drywall bit and get after it like this: <smile>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ss5ysf0Ouw

[Jim_H]

Jeebus.. Mario is a madman...

[Darryl Young]

Over the weekend I was able to work on the back a little (Christmas shopping etc. sort of got in the way). I thicknessed my center strip, rounded the sides over, and glued it onto the back. I used a few extra go bars on the back to make sure the back conformed to the 16ft radius dish.

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