Redwood for bracing?

I dismantled an old redwood picnic bench/table set from back in the 60's and have some perfectly quartersawn, tight grained pieces that I'm wondering about using as bracing or linings. Opinions? Pros? Cons?

-tommy

[tippie53]

I think it would be ok on the back. Can you make any tops?

Possibly some 3 piece tops but I haven't looked through all the pieces yet.

[tippie53]

I like what Running dog posted . I still think spruce is the best brace material , light and strong.

[johnnparchem]

Not Redwood but a related story. I was in a lumber yard and there was a large bin of cedar shingles. some were thick enough and tall enouge to make tops and they had a great sound when tapped. Any one on the site every used cedar shingles?

[tippie53]

interesting idea

[JLT]

Not Redwood but a related story. I was in a lumber yard and there was a large bin of cedar shingles. some were thick enough and tall enouge to make tops and they had a great sound when tapped. Any one on the site every used cedar shingles?

I've used them for mandolin tops and for a hog-nosed psaltery. The mandos worked great, but I decided that there was just too much "ring" in the psaltery ... the notes sustained to the point where they kept obscuring each other. Didn't have pieces big enough for a guitar, though.