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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 3:25 am 
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First name: colin
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For a mortice and tenon bolt on neck I've been using a 1/8" cork lined wedge behind the neck block to lightly clamp the FB extension down while gluing and bolting it on.
This is marking the finish, several small dents clearly visible on a gloss finish.
What do others use for the contact points when clamping on a guitar, especially on a recently finished one?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:58 am 
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Location: Mount Vernon, Ohio
First name: Greg
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I use a similar wedge covered in leather, smooth side out. Works great.

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:16 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I use a plywood caul with cork on it but also pad it with felt.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:20 am 
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First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
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Pads are rectangles cut from Masonite, the felt is from an old cowboy hat. I use double stick tape to hold the felt to the Masonite. Been using the same cauls for decades with no problems. If I get Titebond on the felt, it washes off. Superglue - turn the felt over or slice it off with an Exacto blade.

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:31 am 
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First name: Michael
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Before I switched to a full body-on, I clamped the extension through the sound hole against the neck-block extension.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:55 am 
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I also clamp the extension through the sound hole.

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:16 am 
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I also clamp the FB extension through the soundhole, but use more clamps above/behind the neck block before hand.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:44 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I use a long caul so that it transverses the 14th (or 12th) fret to body joint. One clamp through the sound hole and one on the neck block back of the guitar. Everything clamped tight and dead flat.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 10:11 am 
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Thinking about this some more, when I put on the neck and glue the dovetail I do put a clamp between the fretboard and the back under the neck block. I just use one of those 12" Irwin squeeze clamps with the yellow rubber pads, have not had any finish damage to date.

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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:10 am 
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jfmckenna wrote:
I use a long caul so that it transverses the 14th (or 12th) fret to body joint. One clamp through the sound hole and one on the neck block back of the guitar. Everything clamped tight and dead flat.

And to protect the finish on the back of the neck block, if its finished? (which was the question)

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:35 am 
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I clamp the extension through the sound hole too using two cam clamps. No other clamps.

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These users thanked the author J De Rocher for the post: Colin North (Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:07 pm)
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:10 pm 
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What finish? Thinking it's still a bit soft. maybe?
I've used the wedge shaped caul as well without denting.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:00 pm 
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Ken Lewis wrote:
What finish? Thinking it's still a bit soft. maybe?
I've used the wedge shaped caul as well without denting.

Enduro Var, and I think it was still a bit soft, 16 days after spraying.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:20 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Colin North wrote:
jfmckenna wrote:
I use a long caul so that it transverses the 14th (or 12th) fret to body joint. One clamp through the sound hole and one on the neck block back of the guitar. Everything clamped tight and dead flat.

And to protect the finish on the back of the neck block, if its finished? (which was the question)

Post #2 above :D . I use the same cork lined caul you do only I line it with felt. So there is felt on top of the cork on top of the plywood caul.

I mostly do French Polish finishes so it definitely needs it.



These users thanked the author jfmckenna for the post: Colin North (Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:06 pm)
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:38 pm 
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First name: Ken
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I would think 16 days should be long enough for cure/hardening, unless....
the guitar was at ambient humidity for those 16 days. I've seen, over the years, that waterbornes in general
will remain soft for quite a while when the humidity is up a tad. I haven't used a waterborne on guitars... yet, though.


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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 2:10 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I just use a polish cloth folded in four and a scrap block for the neck, and a soundhole clamp/caul for the extension. Sometimes you'll get fabric imprint but it usually buffs out without having to sand...



These users thanked the author meddlingfool for the post: Colin North (Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:06 pm)
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:46 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I use pieces of formica about 2 inches by 3 inches between the clamp and finish. The smooth hard finish of the formica and larger footprint seem to distribute the pressure over a larger area and are less likely to mar the finish.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:24 am 
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Clay S. wrote:
I use pieces of formica about 2 inches by 3 inches between the clamp and finish. The smooth hard finish of the formica and larger footprint seem to distribute the pressure over a larger area and are less likely to mar the finish.

Are you using the 50 thou thick laminate itself so it conforms to the curve of the back?
And it doesn't slip on the slope of the neck block end of the back when pressure is being applied?
Interesting approach.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 7:12 am 
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First name: Willard
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Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
Verified the hard way - Enduro-Var is a 21 day cure. Attempting to sand and buff or do assembly prior to that risks burn-through at buffing and printing. While we can push instrument lacquer to dry faster in the drying box, Enduro-Var needs time to crosslink and firm up. Fully cured, the finish is very tough and fun to buff out.

We use several facings for cauls and other fixtures. Staples 1/8" cork tiles work well,, but the best cork sheet material we've found is the cork/rubber composite engine gasket material similar to the facings on Klemmsia cam clamp jaws - available in 1/16" and 1/8" thicknesses. Saddle leather is a good choice as well, and we use it to line vise jaws on the big bench and on the older repair vise (the others have urethane sheet jaw facings.

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We have become a civilization that elevates idiots, prostitutes, and clowns. Am I still to defend it? Yes, for its principles. Yes, for what it was. Yes, for what it still may be.

-Mark Helprin, The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story (A Novel)



These users thanked the author Woodie G for the post: Colin North (Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:05 pm)
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:00 am 
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Advice and suggestion much appreciated Woodie.
These were buffed, easily, at 7 days.
Normally I would just have put them aside and not assemble until 21 days at least, but....
I am entered in a show starting tomorrow (booked this past March) hence the early assembly.
And we've recently become lucky enough to be able to buy GluBoost in UK bliss , so I have fill 'n'1 finish for drops fills. [:Y:]

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 8:16 am 
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P.S. is that the nitrile rubber bonded gasket material?

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:34 am 
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Zip/Postal Code: 21502
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Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
Good luck at the show! Wonderful that Enduro-Var patches so well with CA.

Also - yes - cork gasket material seems to be a nitrile rubber/granular cork composite. Tough stuff that is non-marking from what we have seen.

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We have become a civilization that elevates idiots, prostitutes, and clowns. Am I still to defend it? Yes, for its principles. Yes, for what it was. Yes, for what it still may be.

-Mark Helprin, The Oceans and the Stars: A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story (A Novel)



These users thanked the author Woodie G for the post: Colin North (Fri Sep 13, 2019 11:39 am)
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:14 pm 
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Another option is closed cell foam. I use an adhesive-backed close cell foam called "ensolite" in my car for sound treatment purposes (isolating panels and vibration control), but it would be great in clamping solutions as well. A 54" x 36" yard is inexpensive. Super easy to apply thanks to the backing.



These users thanked the author James Orr for the post: Colin North (Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:04 pm)
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 12:29 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Hi Colin,
It is the thicker "horizontal grade" laminate typically used on countertops. I acquired a couple of outdated "chains" that have small sample pieces of the patterns and colors of the laminate on offer. They update the offerings and send new chains so I use the old ones as clamping cauls. The clamp itself usually has a small rubber caul on it that will grip to the unfinished side of the formica enough to hold it in place over the neck block or edge of the guitar. The formica is just there to spread the load over a wider area than the small face of the clamp and the smooth surface doesn't mar the finish.



These users thanked the author Clay S. for the post: Colin North (Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:04 pm)
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:16 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Since I just happen to do this yesterday I thought I'd take a pic. That's french polish and using the felt pad it left no mark.

Image


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