MIMF

To be able to adjust the sound of an instrument one has to be able to adjust the stiffness of the soundboard (back and sides too). Tap tuning is a tool, a way to measure stiffness of a piece of wood by way of its resonant frequency. Similarly a caliper measures stiffness by way of it's thickness, a...

I recently read Cumpiano's article on his view of tap tuning, I now trust this man so do not intend to use this method in getting the correct thickness for my top

So just giving a heads up John

Do most people here also agree with Cumpiano's view?

I just ordered an 'early' record 4 1/2 plane It looks good but does not have a decal on the handle like some good old records do, other than that it looks identical to a picture of a high quality record I found. I liked the condition it is in, many planes on ebay don't take pictures of all the screw...

Just a thought before you go out and purchase some planes. Try and find someone local to you (whereabouts are you, by the way?) and try out some different planes. For instance, I have fairly big hands, and I find that a number 4 is a bit cramped. I prefer a 5 1/2, but also have 6's and 7's which ge...

Paul, pay more attention to the quality of the wood and less to the species. By quality I am referring to the internal damping, stiffness, and weight. The suppliers of tone woods grade their wood by cosmetic qualities, not structural qualities. I see, thank you michael I used this website http://ww...

thanks waddy and clay looks like a smaller plane is a good idea then that's handy as they seem more common when looking for second hand planes just need to make sure I pick a good second hand one now, i have noticed some sell for quite a lot while others which also seem like the higher quality ones ...

In your list of steps, you skipped an important one: jointing the plates. A good hand plane is important here, too. A longer plane, like maybe a #5, is good when you're first attempting this joint, but with practice you can do it with a low angle block plane. There is plenty of info in the library ...

thanks for the further replies forums are an invaluable place to gain knowledge I have been reading some woodworking books and guitar making books over the past week and I now understand why buying wood from a luthier supplier is an easier and quicker option for me rather than continued reading unti...

Most planes will need to be tuned up: soles flattened, throats adjusted, and certainly blades sharpened. I tend to buy beat-up used planes as cheaply as possible and then tune them up to my satisfaction. how do you flatten the sole, with a file? I sharpen my camping knife with 3 japanese water ston...

Thanks everyone for answering my questions

I am now ready to order some wood and tools

Just need to find some good quality planes

thanks all I agree with Waddy & Mark. Definitely go with wood from a tonewood dealer for a first instrument. However, you will still need to bring the wood down to final thickness from how you receive it. The top, back, and sides. The thing to do is to get a decent bench plane and block plane. L...

I am currently deciding whether to buy wood from a guitar wood dealer or my local timber supplier If I buy from the lumber yard, a significant amount of wood will probably have to be removed I do not have a drum sander thicknesser, so is it possible to remove centremetres of material in another way?...