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Do you make your own go bars?
https://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=37800		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Beth Mayer [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Do you make your own go bars?
I'm getting LMIs go-bar deck. I've been using cam clamps and that's no trouble, but can not easily clean squeeze-out with clamps in the way. I happened to be watching John Mayes's voicing vid the other day and noticed he was using what looked like wood strips as go bars. Do any of you make your own bars? If so, what wood is best, and what length, width and thickness. I liked it because it gave a larger footprint for the end where it touches the brace or caul, which seems more stable and maybe distributes the force a little better...though I don't know that. Also, go-bars are expensive and I thought they might be less expensive to make, though that may not be true either.
Author:  Mark Tripp [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Hi Beth,

I make my own. Not a big fan of the fiberglass rods. I use clear, slab sawn fir casework from the local lumber store, then rip that piece into strips a tad thicker than 1/4". This effectively gives me quarter/rift sawn strips. Then I run them through the router table to round over the edges. My deck is 32" floor to roof, minus the height of whatever radius dish I might be using. I have different lengths of course, sized for braces, and for gluing backs and tops.

Here's a pic:

Attachment:
DSCN1946_09-22-2012.JPG


-Mark
Author:  unkabob [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I am not a fan of fiberglass rods either. I started with 3/4" X3/4" spruce wedged in place but that was marginal.

I presently use 1/2" dia PVC waterpipe (conduit would work) with 1/4-20 plate-nuts glued in the end with 1/4-20 bolts in the nuts. The bolts are screwed up for pressure. The problem is that there is no flex between the bolt-head and the upper board. As the glue is absorbed or flows, there is nothing to take up the space and the pipe will sometimes fall down or need a little more screw-turn. Gluing 1/8" cork or rubber to the screw-heads may solve this problem.

The real answer is a spring-loaded-rod that you can build yourself.

Bob :ugeek:
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I don't like them either, so I made these.

Attachment:
P1050508 (Large).JPG
Author:  Mark Mc [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Bamboo is a great material for use in a go bar deck. I don't know if you can get them in your part of the world, but here in Australia every garden supplies or hardware store sells bamboo screening. It is bunches of bamboo rods/stems strung togeter with wire. Just undo the wire, throw away the 20% or so that have defects and won't flex, and you have plenty of go bar rods for next to nothing. I slip little plastic feet on them (the type that are made for chair legs - get the white ones, not black). I happen to have a lot of bamboo growing in my back yard so I just go out and cut what I need - but maybe it doesn't grow so well in Manitoba or Arizona?
cheers
Mark
Author:  CharlieT [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I'm curious about what it is you guys don't like about the fiberglass rods.
Author:  Alain Moisan [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
CharlieT wrote:
I'm curious about what it is you guys don't like about the fiberglass rods.


Me too...
Author:  Mark Tripp [ Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Quote:
I'm curious about what it is you guys don't like about the fiberglass rods.


For me, I just feel I have better control with wood. And, well, I like wood.

That, and I've had the chain-reaction-fiberglass-go-bar-explosion experience. Took weeks for the dog to come back into the shop!

-Mark
Author:  Edzard [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I bought mine from goodwinds.com

I build quite a few tops with them. Nice stuff. If I ordered them again I would go for flat/rectangle go-bars.

My braces are getting thinner and thinner (and higher). Round go-bars are not a good option with those braces.




Best regards,


Edzard
Author:  B. Howard [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 7:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I buy 3/8" hard maple dowels and super glue a piece of cork or a 3M bumpit on the end. Work great and were relatively inexpensive, especially compared to fiberglass.
Author:  bluescreek [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I used a lot of wood , Hickory Maple , Ash , and no matter what I would get too much force or not long life. 8 to 10lb is about right for glue joints. Also there is a big difference between different fiberglass not all are the same. As long as what you use work that is what matters. I find the Fiberglass is consistent in its force and available.
I also use the gobars for closing the box.
Author:  Beth Mayer [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Thanks for all the tips, guys. Todd....I appreciate the detail and pictures. My only objection to the fiberglass was the cost through luthier warehouses. Now I'll make my own!
Author:  weslewis [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
if you have a harbor freight close , I have gotten great use of these fiberglass wire running rods , cut to 2 foot lengths
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/cata ... _16778.jpg
Author:  weslewis [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsea ... lt?q=fiber glass wire
Author:  weslewis [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
oh well duh its item 65326 fiberglass wire running rods
Author:  CharlieT [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Goodwinds will cut the rods in half for you at no charge, if you ask. Probably saves a bit on shipping cost too. Mine have worked great.

The suggestion to order a few extra tips is a good one.
Author:  Terence Kennedy [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 4:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I've grown to like the fiberglass driveway markers. They are thicker but my scale says 8-10 lbs and they work great for me. I do use 1/4" dowels or the 3/16" fiberglass rods for closing the box. The "thread protectors" from the little box aisle of Ace Hardware make good caps.

I also glue the X one limb at a time. You can see the heating blanket on the counter. I set it about 200 and warm the braces on it.

Image
Author:  Joe Sallis [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I used balloons on the ends of my wooden rods.
Not inflated, of course.
Author:  miramadar [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Quote:
I bought mine from goodwinds.com


Thanks for the link Edzard!

Glad I found this post as I'm going to build a go-bar deck in my shop soon. I went to goodwinds.com and found that they had .210" x 36" solid fiberglass rods (red) for $.59 per if you order 24+. So, I got 24 for $24.11 including shipping!! Would have cost me $84 at LMI! bliss [:Y:] [:Y:] [:Y:]

I think LMI should start buying their rods from goodwinds.com...
Author:  miramadar [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
BTW...these "red" rods are on closeout right now. They have about 100 left if you're interested.
Author:  Kelby [ Tue Sep 25, 2012 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
I bought 4' fiberglass rods from McMaster Carr and cut then in half. Very inexpensive. I bought rubber tips from them too. Works great.
Author:  Mattia Valente [ Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Fibreglass from a kite supply store with extra tips here as well. Cut to size as desired.
Author:  herry tze [ Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Beth Mayer wrote:
Thanks for all the tips, guys. Todd....I appreciate the detail and pictures. My only objection to the fiberglass was the cost through luthier warehouses. Now I'll make my own!


Beth, I made my own too, I use bamboo for the reason cheap :D but I thing that's good elasticity, And the bamboo alot around
here. I cut 20"-21" and I use the table for install... bliss
Author:  John Arnold [ Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Yes.

Image
Author:  ChuckH [ Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Do you make your own go bars?
Beth,
I got mine from http://www.goodwinds.com too. Good price and ALOT cheaper than LMI.

Might have a few extra around here I could send you.

Hutch
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