Go Bars

[Greg Steil]

What is the optimum distance twixt decks for proper flex of a 24" rod? Closer, the stronger clamp pressure right? I have read somewhere about struggles with keeping the bars located on the top. How about putting a hunk of Pegboard up there? Multiple individual "sockets" for the bars. Does anyone shape cauls to match brace profile? Thanks.

[Waddy Thomson]

Not really. Once deflected a few inches, the rods are pretty consistent in pressure, regardless of how much more you bend them. A slight bend is better/safer than large ones, and the pressure is easier to control, direction wise. The distance depends on the length of the rods and the amount of room needed to comfortably insert your work and get the rods in place.

[Greg Steil]

thanks, the Stew Mac set up for their kit uses app. 30" supports, so it appears that the radius dishes need to be boosted a bit. Once I get some rods, I'm going to figure out the amount I need, and get a short piece of large diameter Plastic pipe as a booster for the Rad dish. This way I could also reach in with deep throat cam clamps if needed.

[Clay Schaeffer]

Kathy Matsushita shows some interesting modifications to the typical go bar deck on her new website. There is a link to it in the jam session.

[Greg Steil]

I have found a source for 24" sanding discs. Zoro Tools, in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Ordered some, and will report back. $15.00 each seems pretty good to me compared to other sources.

[Greg Steil]

Sanding discs. I just have to add, I ordered them yesterday, they got here today. True I am only 100 miles away(although I didn't know that), I'd say that was darn quick service. They have all the grits as well.

[Matthew Lau]

Kathy's deck is the cat's meow.

I've seen it in person, and can't think of anything better (maybe I lack imagination.)

[Murray MacLeod]

When i built my first guitar, one thing i knew was that i did not want to use the bendy fiberglass bars ... no thank you.

I made these out of aluminum tube and maple doweling, which was a nice sliding fit. In between the two pieces of doweling is a 4" long spring. I adjusted the go-bars, and cut the varying lengths of dowelling, so that they would each exert 12lb of pressure. So in the picture, the back center strip is being glued ... for closing the box, the top doweling was 4" shorter.

Over-engineered, perhaps ... but I will never have a go-bar fly out and hit me in the eye ...distance between the decks is 34" btw ...I like a bit of space when I am working.

[Waddy Thomson]

I'm with you Murray. I didn't like the bendy bars either, and didn't have room for a separate go-bar deck, so I made all mine with water pipe and dowels with springs, and just made a top for my solera. Works great.

[Barry Daniels]

I, personally, like bendy bars.

[Waddy Thomson]

You are not alone! Certainly is cheaper!

[Jason Brown]

What size water pipe and dowel rods did you use Waddy? What size are the springs you used also?

[Waddy Thomson]

I have all that info somewhere! I'll see if I can find it and post. I had a tutorial on how to make them, but can't remember were I posted it.

I found the post at another forum. I'll re-do it and post it here if there's an interest. It'll take a little time to get all the pictures, etc found and re-sized for MIMF.

[Jason Brown]

Ok. Thanks Waddy.