Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Wood choice logic, brace shapes, braces patterns -- what and why for the "heart of the guitar"
Herman
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Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Post by Herman » Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:30 am

Some braces we tuck into the sides, some not. But those who are "notched in", can be fitted in two ways.

1st, The brace tucked into the kerfed lining, but not through the sides. A lot of instructions go this way. Advantage is that you can make the end of the brace as thick as you like. Downside is that it is more hussle to make it.

2nd, Right through the kerfed linings and sides. Advantage here is that you can rout right though all. Simple. Downside is that the binding later on should cover the gap. Therefore the end of the brace cannot be thicker than ballpark 0.1".

What do you do? Thoughts?
Spoiler: I go for no 2.
Herman

Carl Dickinson
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Re: Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Post by Carl Dickinson » Mon Jul 04, 2022 12:10 pm

#2 for me too.

peter havriluk
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Re: Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Post by peter havriluk » Mon Jul 04, 2022 2:50 pm

Door number 2, please. Don't want to to spend effort only to see the care wasted when the router carries away the side anyway to make room for the binding.
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Dave Bagwill
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Re: Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Post by Dave Bagwill » Mon Jul 04, 2022 8:25 pm

I like #1. But I only inlet the UTB and braces in the upper bout.
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John Parchem
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Re: Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Post by John Parchem » Tue Jul 05, 2022 4:08 am

I always do number 1. I used to leave my brace ends thick enough such that the pocket was deeper than the thin bindings I use on some classicals. It is so easy to make the pockets that I do ot the same for all instruments

Herman
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Re: Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Post by Herman » Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:48 am

3 to 2 so far.
So to Dave and John: What is the advantage, to you, to leave the brace ends larger than 0.1"?

FWIW: I played a Taylor maple jumbo, where the back braces ended about 2" before the lining.

Dave Bagwill
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Re: Braces tucked in the sides, or right through?

Post by Dave Bagwill » Tue Jul 05, 2022 12:22 pm

I make no claims as to a benefit for #1, but I enjoy the process and it feels good to me,
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