The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 11-17-2020, 08:56 PM
rccosta rccosta is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Exclamation URGENT - When can you take acoustic out of mold?

When during the build process are you able to take the guitar out of the mold?

Can you remove it after you've glued sides to end/tail blocks, installed kerfing and vertical braces (between kerfing)?

Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-17-2020, 09:01 PM
Bruce Sexauer's Avatar
Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
AGF Sponsor
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Petaluma, CA, USA
Posts: 7,525
Default

Hard for me to say because I never put mine in one. Try it, you might like it.
__________________
Bruce
http://www.sexauerluthier.com/
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-17-2020, 09:27 PM
rccosta rccosta is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 34
Red face

you're an animal bruce, and i love that about you
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-18-2020, 07:09 AM
Glen H Glen H is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 82
Default

Once I glue the sides to the blocks in the mold, I don’t remove it until the top and back are on. That’s just what works for me.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-18-2020, 07:28 AM
RoyBoy RoyBoy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 647
Default

With the mandolins I've built, I find that they move very little after gluing the blocks and linings. I do keep the rims in the mold while gluing on the top though, just making sure the rims don't distort under clamp pressure.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-18-2020, 07:33 AM
redir redir is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 7,657
Default

I don't use molds either but on occasion I have to make one when removing the back of an archtop for example. It's just a simple mold made from stiff cardboard and the purpose of it is to maintain the shape of the instrument when you glue the back on. Typically they pop out a bit so if you don't make the mold it would be VERY difficult to align it.

Having said all that, I can pop the archtop out of the mold and then simply just force it back in as needed. So I'm going to say that you should be able to remove yours and place it back in.

This popped out of the mold but it will fit right back in


Fitted back in for clamping
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-18-2020, 07:56 AM
JonWint JonWint is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: 1 hr from Nazareth
Posts: 1,045
Default

After blocks and then back in mold to fix shape for top and back attachment. (Martin factory)

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-18-2020, 09:42 AM
Monts Monts is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 422
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JonWint View Post
After blocks and then back in mold to fix shape for top and back attachment. (Martin factory)

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
Any pics of the top or bottom being glued on in the mold? Do you use Go bars or something else?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-18-2020, 11:07 AM
Shuksan Shuksan is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 748
Default

Is your question when can you take the guitar out of the mold and leave it out?

If so, for me, that's after the top and back have been glued to the sides.

If you are asking when it's ok to take the guitar out of the mold earlier in the process, it's ok any time after the head and tail blocks have been glued to the sides, and then they go back in. For example, I take the sides with head/tail blocks and kerfed linings installed out of the mold to install the end graft. The sides then go back in the mold.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-18-2020, 12:41 PM
JonWint JonWint is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: 1 hr from Nazareth
Posts: 1,045
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Monts View Post
Any pics of the top or bottom being glued on in the mold? Do you use Go bars or something else?
Martin uses a press. I use clamps usually with a plate for the first glue on and plate or individual clamps for the second. I used to glue top first but now do bottom first to clean up squeeze-out and brace end pocket lining touch-up.

It's all about cosmetics. Guitar geeks are looking inside the box now. On Martin Authentics, any ling gap greater than 1/16" is "patched".

But, what do I know, I'm on build number 9.

http://
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-19-2020, 07:46 AM
Monts Monts is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 422
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JonWint View Post
Martin uses a press. I use clamps usually with a plate for the first glue on and plate or individual clamps for the second. I used to glue top first but now do bottom first to clean up squeeze-out and brace end pocket lining touch-up.

It's all about cosmetics. Guitar geeks are looking inside the box now. On Martin Authentics, any ling gap greater than 1/16" is "patched".

But, what do I know, I'm on build number 9.

http://
Awesome, thank you!
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Tags
guitar mold, guitar shape, out of mold, stability out of mold, take guitar out of mold

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=