Acoustic Guitar Construction

I received my brace wood billets today and I've been looking into how to make braces. It seems that most folks prefer to split the stock to make the braces because it shows any runout in the billet. The billets I received are 1"x3" from LMI. Do you typically split the billet one time perpendicular to the grain or what? What is your process?

I tip the band-saw table to match the vertical grain -- rarely is it perfectly perpendicular, draw a line on the surface grain if it angled toward the edge usually a bit run-out, once squared to the grain pattern I go ahead and re-saw. On a very wide boards you may have to make an adjustment if the grain pattern changes.

I split my braces from blocks of wood. Mainly I do that because I have no other means of cutting braces but also because people more experienced than I say you should do that. Its also a lot of fun.
I will take some pics of how I do it and post them. I promise I will do it before the end of 2012. If I do it sooner, it will be a big gift to all of you!







Edited to correct spelling errors.

Thank you Tony ---- oh great one, we're not worthy!!

kencierp wrote:Thank you Tony ---- oh great one, we're not worthy!!

No Ken. You are worthy. I was actually going to do it last night, but I fell asleep early. For that I am sorry. But I will get it done soon. Promise.