Internal bracing idea?

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David Robinson · #1 Post by **David Robinson** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:27 pm

As a disclaimer, I've been known to build the occasional cigar box guitar and my favorite fretless bass is made of predominately "reclaimed wood" put together by Steve Wishnevsky.

So anyway, I'm trying to cut costs anywhere I can. Is it feasible to use the plethora of broken drumsticks I have laying around here for the smaller internal braces, spacing them a couple inches apart, as opposed to cutting the braces out of plywood?

El Guapo: Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?
Jefe: A what?
El Guapo: A *plethora*.
Jefe: Oh yes, you have a plethora.
El Guapo: Jefe, what is a plethora?
Jefe: Why, El Guapo?
El Guapo: Well, you told me I have a plethora. And I just would like to know if you know what a plethora is. I would not like to think that a person would tell someone he has a plethora, and then find out that that person has *no idea* what it means to have a plethora.

Sorry, I love that movie (as i turn my head and cough...)

WB · #2 Post by WB » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:48 pm

gitfiddl wrote:Is it feasible to use the plethora of broken drumsticks I have laying around here for the smaller internal braces, spacing them a couple inches apart, as opposed to cutting the braces out of plywood?

Couple years ago I mentioned using round dowels for bracing and the consensus was it should work fine. Drum sticks are even stronger

Sydney · #3 Post by **Sydney** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 6:56 pm

On my T18 I placed additional bracing between panels A-E, B-F, and C-G.
These were in the form of pieces of homemade dowel... I salvaged from a cedar tree ( bug repellent and all that ).
These were close to 1" in diameter - pilot hole drilled - glued and screwed.
I've used dowels before...
Drumsticks seem to me to be too narrow in diameter to work with.

LelandCrooks · #4 Post by **LelandCrooks** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:04 pm

Flatten them on the belt sander just enough to pl them together.
Glad to know I'm not the only looney scrapper on here. I glue up any significant scraps of plywood with the biscuit joiner for use as braces.

vlad335 · #5 Post by **vlad335** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:23 pm

Ahh, a Wishbass! I always wanted to try one of those.

AntonZ · #6 Post by **AntonZ** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:48 am

LelandCrooks wrote:I glue up any significant scraps of plywood with the biscuit joiner for use as braces.

Gotta have a good source for your biscuits then. Over here the biscuits would cost more than a fresh piece of ply. I do keep anything larger than say 3"x3". Comes in handy for braces, airtight boxes behind jacks, support behind recessed handles, whatever. And they make good toys: I sanded the sharp edges off some small T18 braces that didn't fit. Those are in my son's toolbox to play with (3 years old).

Harley · #7 Post by **Harley** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:49 am

AntonZ wrote:...Over here the biscuits would cost more than a fresh piece of ply.....

Same here in Godzone...extraordinarily expensive - and guess what....hardly anyone knows what a biscuit cutter is ( unless you're a woman as biscuits here are what the US calls cookies and no household is without a "baking" biscuit/cookie cutter )

Tim A · #8 Post by **Tim A** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:12 am

Here. This should really irritate you guys.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95220

David Robinson · #9 Post by **David Robinson** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:14 am

vlad335 wrote:Ahh, a Wishbass! I always wanted to try one of those.

The workmanship is definitely not on par with production basses, as I'm sure you've read, but it does have a certain vibe to it. I kind of dig it.

AntonZ · #10 Post by **AntonZ** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:53 am

Tim Ard wrote:Here. This should really irritate you guys.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95220

Sure does, and so does the 19.99 HF hopper gun

bgavin · #11 Post by **bgavin** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:25 am

Harley wrote:...as biscuits here are what the US calls cookies...

Ahh... the language thing. In the US, there is nothing better than getting stuffed at the dinner table, wiping your face with a napkin, rooting for your favorite sports team, then flashing the V for Victory sign when they give the other team the boot.

This translates quite differently, Down Under.

BTW, if you need a CARE package sent down under, just give a shout and we can load you up with biscuits or cookies, or whatever you call 'em down there.

SoundInMotionDJ · #12 Post by **SoundInMotionDJ** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:33 am

Tim Ard wrote:Here. This should really irritate you guys.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95220

Now that was just mean. And thanks for the link...I ordered a dozen!

--Stan Graves

SoundInMotionDJ · #13 Post by **SoundInMotionDJ** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:45 am

AntonZ wrote:I do keep anything larger than say 3"x3". Comes in handy for braces, airtight boxes behind jacks, support behind recessed handles, whatever.

I'm about the same. My scrap bucket is overflowing, so I either need to build something, or cull the pile into something more manageable. Small scrap tends to wind up as braces or patterns. If I need to mark something 2" from an edge, I'm very likely to cut a piece of scrap to 2" wide. And so on.

--Stan Graves

Harley · #14 Post by **Harley** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:51 pm

Tim Ard wrote:....http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95220

WOW....here the biscuits cost about $0.80...EACH

I'm off down to the hardware store soon so I'll see if I can get a pic of them on sale just to show you.

bgavin · #15 Post by **bgavin** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:38 am

I've seen the Harbor Freight biscuit sale on a regular basis. I don't have a biscuit cutter yet, but a Bosch is coming from one of my clients as barter.

If you need a bag of biscuits down under, I can send you something a book or something and use the biscuits as "packing material".

BillFitzmaurice.info

Internal bracing idea?

Internal bracing idea?

Re: Internal bracing idea?