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PostPosted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:00 am 
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Walnut
Walnut
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Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:55 pm
Posts: 29
First name: David
Last Name: Hurd
City: Hilo
State: HI
Zip/Postal Code: 96720
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Measuring the amount of deflection that a successful completed instrument has can provide useful information for future builds. Making the same measurements during the build can help the builder come close to reproducing the qualities of a successful instrument. Herein I create a three part series on making, calibrating and using a simple jig for measuring guitar family instrument tops.

The first picture shows the parts for the lever portion of the jig with an 18" ruler for scale.

Image

The materials list is simple and inexpensive: a piece of 1x3 about 18" long; a 1 1/2" size PVC coupling, a piece of 1 1/2" PVC pipe about 8" long, a 3/8" square metal rod ~ 18" long, a large fender washer and a 1/2"-5/8" lock nut or brass bushing and a 3/16 bolt (and nut) with the bolt longer than the pipe is wide.

I first rounded the ends of the board and then traced the outline of the coupling ~ 3/8" from one end. Using a jig saw I then cut along the inside of the traced line and removed the plug. I then epoxied the cut closed. At this point the PVC coupling should fit firmly in the hole but still rotate easily. I now cut 3/4" from one end of the coupling and squared the cut surface. This cut surface will be the bottom of the holder.

Image

Next I drilled a 5/8" hole completely through the 8" length of PVC pipe about 2" from one end. Turning the pipe 90 degrees, I then drilled a series of 3/16" holes ~ 1/2" apart, again completely through the pipe. Now using a bandsaw (blade with fine teeth) or hand saw make slots from the top of the pipe to the 5/8" holes. Smooth the cut surfaces with 120 grit sandpaper.

Image

Drill a hole slightly larger than 3/16" through the middle of the 3/8" metal rod. Epoxy the large fender washer about 3/4" from the end of the rod and at right angles to the rod surface that the hole was drilled through. Epoxy the lock nut or bushing to the squared off end of the rod as shown in the picture. Allow time for the epoxy to harden. I also used some filler in the epoxy to make it easier to apply and make the fillets for extra strength.

Image

At this point we can assemble the unit. The fender washer will be on the upper surface of the rod. Choose any pair of the 3/16" holes, thread the bolt through the PVC pipe and metal rod and lightly secure it with the nut. Place the PVC pipe in the PVC couple and press down lightly. The unit as a whole should rotate easily but not sloppily in the wood base. Now on to the dial indicator frame.

Image

The wooden frame consists of three parts: a piece of wood ~1 1/2-1 3/4" wide and 3/4" thick that's 2" longer than the widest dimension of the lower bout of the instrument; and two pieces of wood the width of the first piece and about 1" long. You will also need an inexpensive dial indicator for making the deflection measurements.

Beginning ~ 1 1/2" from the end of the long wooden piece, drill a series of holes 1" apart until you reach the other end of the piece. The hole diameter should be the same as the main stem of the dial indicator. See below.

Image

Part 2 will show the calibration of the deflection device and Part 3 will show how to make top deflection measurements.

aloha,

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David C. Hurd
http://www.ukuleles.com

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 11:06 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2010 2:57 pm
Posts: 133
First name: Tom
Last Name: Dl
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Archers have been measuring this stuff for a lot longer, here is a fancy jig for measuring arrows, same idea as braces.

http://www.centreshot.co.uk/shop/popup_ ... hp/pID/789

Simple jigs of this type are faster to calibrate for any bends in the wood, and are easier make.

http://www.3riversarchery.com/ShowLarge ... ine+Tester

After several decades of research, not to mention thousands of years. A simple formula related to wood density, was finally "discovered", by bowyers. Something similar was described here. I remember back in 2000 in Nashville when Irwin Somogyi got schooled on the stiffness thing during a presentation. Just got his superb book and he has moved ahead a whole lot, but it is amazing how late to the party lutherie has been.

Another interesting approach for which I have a fancy jig, uses a weight at one end, and an instrument at the other that measures frequency. You insert the stick you want to measure into the device, suspend the weight, and give it a pluck. The frequency = the stiffness, no zeroing or straightness issues. That kind of approach ought to be a natural in this field.


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:15 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:21 am
Posts: 2924
Location: Changes when ever I move..Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks for making the effort and taking the time to start this thread so you could detail your jig in the Fixture, Video and Picture Tutorials section of the forum David. I'm looking forward to the 2nd and 3rd installments and I am sure they will prove very useful for many who check this area for ideas.

OK, this should make life easier for anyone trying to follow this thread.

You are currently viewing part 1 of 4.

PART 2: http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=24470

PART 3: http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=24471

PART 4: http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=24476&p=403909#p403909

Cheers

Kim


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PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2018 9:50 am 
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Mahogany
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Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:20 am
Posts: 52
Location: St. Albert, Alberta
First name: Michael
Last Name: Lazar
City: St. Albert
State: Alberta
Zip/Postal Code: T8N 5Y6
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
What the hell ????



These users thanked the author mflazar for the post: John Steele (Fri May 18, 2018 11:39 am)
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