Pau Ferro

[Geocoucou79]

Hi guys,

I bought Pau Ferro for my back and side. Any thoughts on thickness for these with this wood?

[Geocoucou79]

IMG_0093.jpeg (499.1 KiB) Viewed 1359 times

[banjopicks]

Seems like the current thicknessing is by ear. The woop woop sound when you hold the edges and vibrate it like a piece of sheet metal.

[Kevin in California]

I think typical specs will be fine here.
Sides are usually around .080 to .090". Harder to bend when more than .090.
Your back somewhere between .100 and .125" should come out well.

[peter havriluk]

I've thinned soundboards to try to get the shimmering sheet-metal sound 'banjopicks' mentioned. I haven't done it for backs and/or sides. I concur with Kevin's comments on b/s thicknesses. We don't have the opportunity to wiggle, flex, or otherwise manipulate OP's back and side panels. There's lots more to optimizing side woods than thinning to a specification, none of which we will be doing here. Eighty thousandths for sides is certainly a valid measurement for me. Thicker sides ain't better, they'll just refuse to bend nice.

[Herman]

Second that. Even 0.08" for the sides can be tough on bending, as I experienced again yesterday on the Pau Ferro of my current project.
Herman

[Kevin in California]

Herman
Whatcha making?