Hi Mark,Thanks for your replies, they are really useful.I have now routed the binding channel on the soundboard side and this went pretty well with no noticeable chipping. I am building flat tops so this side is the easy one…   Read more»

Good morning,I have a cedar soundboard which is noticeably more flexible with the grain (side to side) than the spruce ones. Is this just typical of cedar or should I avoid using it?

Hi Mark,Do you mean in terms of the grain tearing out? I will try a small section where the tail piece insert will go to judge if there will be a problem and, if so, I will go around the…   Read more»

Thanks Mark, I shall check it outDarren

Is there a guide to the ideal weight for a soundboard complete with all its braces? Clearly this would vary a little with different woods and more with different sizes but is there an accepted formula? eg weight of braces…   Read more»

My first soundboard pretty much finished I think. Just got to cut the channels into the sides/kerfing and it can be glued on. Having cut a couple of channels by hand I think I might make a jig for the…   Read more»

The problem with any gas burner is that water is produced in the combustion process so if you are trying to reduce the humidity this method of heating will be adding more humidity that your dehumidifier is likely to cope…   Read more»

Dremel it was! A bit smelly on the first cut when going through into the MDF core but after that it was fine. Sanded the edge flat in between cuts to ensure one good face for bonding into the machined…   Read more»

Ok, took it out of the press and put it through the sander to trim the laminate flush. Cut up an 80g sanding belt and stuck glue film on the back before carefully applying it the the machined did. Having…   Read more»

My last sets of laminated sides! Promise! This time I have used the same veneer all the way through ie macassar ebony, with two internal layers running at 90 degrees. Not sure if this will make a difference but it …   Read more»

Machining my R4800 sanding dish. Rough cuts taken with a 9mm straight bit and then final passes with a 10mm ball nose cutter on 2mm pitch. This gave small ridges between the cuts but these were so insignificant that I…   Read more»

Thanks, I will do. My natural tendency is to prefer science to art but I guess I’m going to have to let go a bit on this one!I have one cedar soundboard that seems very much floppier across the grain…   Read more»

Just whether it would be a useful thing for me to make. Sounds like it is, so I’ll machine one later today.ThanksDarren

Ok, so here’s a question. The massur birch parts don’t sound as hard and ringy as the ziracote, with the santos rosewood somewhere in the middle. Would it be better to match the massur birch with a very hard and…   Read more»