Shopsmith Forums

Hey guys, next week I'm going to begin building a guitar for an online luthier contest, and I have a tiny issue. The plank of wood that I'm using for my top is about 8.5" wide and I need to resaw it down the middle from a 1" plank to two book matched 1/2" pieces. My SS bandsaw obviously only has barely over a 6" throat, so if anybody here is in the Orange County, CA area with a suggestion on where to get that resawn that would be incredibly helpful.

Also, if it wasn't for the fact that I need to keep the top as thick as I can I'd use the table saw to cut from both sides and then hand saw the middle and plane it flat, but I need to keep the cut as small as possible.

Thanks!

Check with or join a local woodworking club. I have been amazed at the equipment some members have in their shop. Check any woodworking stores near you. Some might let you try their equipment. Check Google or Craig's List looking for anyone doing custom cabinets or woodworking. Also check them for a reasonable priced deeper depth bandsaw that is for sale. Let your fingers do the walking.

Bill gave excellent suggestions but I let me add check your local schools and junior colleges many have fully outfitted shops. If that fails check the yellow pages for custom furniture/cabinet shops. Many have huge bandsaws and most will let you buy time or do the cutting for you.

I wonder...wood you be able to talk your local woodworking equipment dealer into demonstrating their band saw with your wood?

I'm planning on doing something similar, but I'm investigating making a frame saw. I'm cutting quarter-sawn spruce for flat-tops. At 1/2" I'm guessing you are going to be doing some carving for an electric? Maybe an archtop?

Anyway, the plan is as follows:
http://www.hyperkitten.com/woodworking/frame_saw.php

Derek

In my town there is an older privately owned lumber yard (not a big box store) that has a saw that will do that. Check on the older lumber dealers. Jim

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. It looks like there might be a few people that can help me almost withing walking distance from my place according to the local woodworkers clubs, so I'll make some calls. I'll even see if the Ganahl across the street might be able to help me.

What about cutting it into 2 pieces that are 4.25" wide? Then you can resaw it and glue it back together. It seems you are going to have at least one seam in the finished product anyway. I would expect these other seams would be very hard to see.

Check on the TDPRI forum and see if some one who lives close by can assist. :-):rolleyes:

Also if you can settle for about 6.75" wide re-saw width - Guitarnut modified his SS to do that much, and he makes fine instruments.

I actually got hooked up with my local community college woodshop. the teacher is going to let me come in and resaw on their equipment. I have a feeling this is going to be a good resource to have.

@mgdesigns - haha, i see we lurk in multiple forums! Yes, I've seen the resaw table that Guitarnut made and would love to go that direction with mine, eventually...