Grain direction

Materials used - making - placing - gluing to the sound-board <-----<<< got to get this right!
Kenny Wiebusch
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Location: Southeast Texas

Grain direction

Post by Kenny Wiebusch » Wed Oct 06, 2021 11:45 am

Any thoughts on best grain direction for a martin style bridge. Grain parallel to the top ? Perpendicular? 45*? It seems parallel would be the strongest.

John Parchem
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Re: Grain direction

Post by John Parchem » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:15 pm

I like close to perpendicular. I think of the bridge as an important longitudinal brace, I like the increased longitudinal stiffness with grain running the length of the bridge.

Dave Bagwill
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Re: Grain direction

Post by Dave Bagwill » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:21 pm

What John said +1
-Under permanent construction

Kenny Wiebusch
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Location: Southeast Texas

Re: Grain direction

Post by Kenny Wiebusch » Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:18 am

I see what you are saying. I guess I was thinking more about bridge failure or splitting.

Kenny Wiebusch
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Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2019 11:39 pm
Location: Southeast Texas

Re: Grain direction

Post by Kenny Wiebusch » Thu Oct 07, 2021 5:21 pm

So i was making a couple of bridges. i finally figured out a way to cut a clean slot however I cut through the blank. Is it still usable or do you think it would be too
weak?

John Parchem
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Re: Grain direction

Post by John Parchem » Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:47 pm

K Wiebusch wrote: Thu Oct 07, 2021 5:21 pm So i was making a couple of bridges. i finally figured out a way to cut a clean slot however I cut through the blank. Is it still usable or do you think it would be too
weak?
Make a strip of wood to fill the slot to the correct depth. If the strip is sized OK you can glue it in and the blank is as good as new.

Herman
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Re: Grain direction

Post by Herman » Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:51 pm

The bridges I used had up to 45 degrees. Some of them. None splitted up to this day. Just use proper dense wood.
I know someone (I forget who) cuts right through the blank and lets the saddle rest on the spruce top.
Well, I do not know if this works though the years. But letting the saddle rest on a bit of handwood is a good practise imo. So if in doubt, loose the blank. again imo.
Herman

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