Acoustic Guitar Construction

I prefer this to using the thickness sander, but of course I switch between the two depending on mood. :-)

When I first started making guitars I had never used a hand plane. I was relucted to use them. I obtained 5 different size planes in a trade and slowly began trying to use them. Once I set them all out on the bench, and took the irons out and sharpened/honed them did I realize how much fun they are to use!! Dave, I still thickness mostley with my drum sander, but I do enjoy using the planes to joint edges, shape braces, take down headstock thickness and the like. It is sweet when those super thin shavings come out the top.

Kevin

Cool. So is that a jack plane you have there Dave? Standard iron or retrofitted? What bevel angle do you use for spruce?

Dave - it's an old flea-market Stanley - Bailey #5. I think it is the original iron, still gets and stays nice and sharp though. 25*

Those of us who are tool-deprived while starting out might just faint dead away if they saw the price tags on planes at the woodworking shops. Are there such things as serviceable planes available retail at digestible prices? Flea markets/tag sales are good ideas, but if someone wanted to buy a plane for building, he likely won't be interested in waiting to trip over the right tag sale/flea market.

You can buy a new and great block plane that will last for generations for around $140 and might be the only plane you want or need. But you might drop a line to Lee at Best Things.com and ask what he has in the price range you are comfortable with. He will not steer you wrong, and you might save some serious money on an old 'user' block plane - it's where I got my chisels and they are old, worn and wonderful.

I have a small 1" finger place, #4, #5, and block plane. I use the block plane the most.