Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm about to make my first linings and am wondering if anyone has an opinion on the correct grain orientation. I was looking through my store bought stock and it's all over the place. I'd think the grain should be parallel to the rims. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Michael

I prefer mine closer to quarter grained, i.e. parallel to the top and back.

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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.

Kerfed or solid?

I knew you were gonna ask about solid linings! I'm only home 2 days a week until Paige's house rehab is complete. Solid linings are on the radar. Until then....

Seems like the grain should be parallel to the long dimension. I have made them at 1/4" thick and 5/8" tall copying some commercial material

Ed

Since these are essentially a bunch of very, very short pieces of wood connected by a thin web, I doubt that it makes any difference. There really are some things in lutherie that don't make no nevermind

Oh, and I am assuming you meant grain.

Grant

I'd say sure if you were buying kerfed linings, but making your own? Surely solid ones are easier?

Actually I just finished building an automated fixture for my bandsaw that will cut a 32" kerfed lining regular or reverse in a little over a minute. I'll try to post a vid of it tomorrow.

Btw, sent you a potential customer.

I started talking with him the morning. Not sure why you're not selling him one of your lovely instruments?! Is he a good guy?

Seems to be, but I only know him via email. I get the sense that he just wants something new. NOW

Guitar buyers are strange. Thank god