How I split braces

[TonyinNYC]

While Ken is right, I do split along the grain lines, if you are asking if I check for run out along the length of the brace, from the glue surface to the top, what Cumpiano refers to as "invisible run out" my answer is, it depends. If my billet is big enough, I will split it to check for the invisible run out. If it is not, I do not. Can't be wasting my wood you know! Is that what you were asking Tom?

[ken cierp]

OK I'll play ---- how does one "see" invisible run-out?

[Tom West]

Tony: Right on,and that is one of the reasons why I don't use sawn boards for making braces. All the material I have ever received has had run out that prevented getting a full brace. I use billets and can get around this problem. To me it's more important to not have any run out in the braces than it is in the top itself.

[Tom West]

Ken: The invisible grain Cumpiano refers to is the run out.
Tom

[ken cierp]

Here's my suggestion - use only if you want to save a bunch of $$$. While it is best to get sound-boards from a supplier that knows what they are doing (I recommend Pacific Rim or one of their distributors) fine Spruce suitable for brace billets can be purchased from lumber yards that service boat and aircraft builders. While appearance is not the major concern in those arenas vertical grain and proper drying is -- about half price, to say Stew Mac or LMII and most likely that is where they get brace wood billets -- Sitka anyway.

And run-out free braces can be cut on a band saw (done all the time at the big time factories) you just have to prepare the blank properly -- I show that in a different post.

[TonyinNYC]

The invisible run out can only be seen by splitting the brace or billet. After you split with the grain lines, you split perpendicular to the grain lines. If there is runout, the split sill travel out of the top or bottom of the brace. That can weaken the brace and if bumped, the brace could split along these invisible run out lines. Although, if you bump the guitar that hard, it will probably sustain other damage as well. But, when you eliminate all runout in a brace, it is a dream to carve them.