Brace/Radius Techniques

[DJ Parker]

Hello All, Looking for feedback...

Well, after building the 4-1/2' radius dish for Ukuleles it was time to try it out. I thought that the 'go-bar' deck would be the ticket but found that it didn't quite have enough 'Ummph' to push the back down into the radius dish to glue the braces. So, for this first one I used a rather crowded looking arrangement with clamps to seat the braces with the back and radius. I have to admit that this is a tight one and although there were no crackling sounds it was nonetheless an anxious few minutes.

My comments?
1. My back was thinned to 2MM and it seemed flexible enough. I hope that the braces maintain their strength and keep the radius in check. I did not wet or heat the back.
2. Would any of you had done differently? Wet the back? Steam it? Thin it up more?
3. Should I expect the back to want to fight the braces or will the tension help the projection of tone?
4. Several builders tend to use a shallower back radius...
Thoughts?


I have a great jig in mind for securing the braces on this radius dish for Ukes. It just seemed easier in the little dish to
forgo the go-bars.

Thanks for your input.

[Mark Fogleman]

You'll need some hefty braces to hold a 4ft radius. I use 15' for the backs and 25' for the tops but could very well make them flat for the light amount of stress a Uke has.