Acoustic Guitar Construction

So is it any easier to use the KMG contour system than using radius dishes? I was wondering if the KMG system sands the contour on the sides any quicker than “driving the bus” with radius dishes?

Note, edited my other comment, hole should go thru bar.
Whether you use the bar or a dish, you need to have the side edges roughly shaped to the contour of the plate/side intersection, otherwise your shoulders will get real tired. Lots of ways to do that, a dish helps with that, search for it on the forums. Check out this thread how John marks the sides, http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/board/vi ... =73&t=8695.
I made my own dishes. Got a plan to make outside molds from Rick Micheletti at http://www.luthierscooltools.com/Dwgs.htm#Molds which included instructions and plans on making the molds and dishes. Warning! Do it outside in a stiff wind. MDF and routers make bad dust clouds .
With the dishes there is much more area of contact of the abrasive to the edge. Lately, I've been securing the dish down and moving the body in the mold over it. Less chatter.

A few months ago I made my dishes out of MDF outdoors. I've never seen so much sawdust in one place at one time. Outdoors is a must-do for me.

I’ve seen videos on how to make radius dishes. It looks like a mess. Thanks for the tip to do it outside.

The radius bar is easier to make, btw, and I've used it on all my guitars and my student's guitars. Comes down to what you find comfortable.

Dave, do how do you shape the side edges before using the sanding bar? Template before you bend? or when it's in the mold like I do?

How would you shape the side edges while it’s still in the mold? Maybe a small block plane?

Carl Dickinson wrote:Dave, do how do you shape the side edges before using the sanding bar? Template before you bend? or when it's in the mold like I do?