So a little update on the past few days! After getting the sides together, I was trying to figure out what to work on next. I mentioned adding small braces to the sides so I picked up a strip of 1/16" basswood which I cut into strips to use for these braces. I haven't glued the side braces yet because I need to get a couple spring clamps to hold them in place. Next I couldn't decide to work on the top or the back. Either way, I have to plan out how to clamp everything so I get good glue joints on all the braces and end up with the correct radii on the top and back. Doing this without a radius dish may prove to be a little tricky, but there is plenty of info on the web that helps me figure out alternative ways to accomplish this task!
Here I began trimming the A-braces to fit against the X-braces. I still have to decide what order I will glue all the braces. If I had a radius dish, all braces could be glued at once. Without a radius dish I think I'll have to glue braces individually. Right now I'm trying to decide if I should glue the A-braces and the big brace that goes across the top, and THEN the X-braces.... or to do it in the opposite order. Gotta give this one a little thought before I get out the glue!
Next, I decided to work on the back. I made the center strip out of 1/16" basswood, 20 mm wide. I marked the center line on the strip, and lined it up with the center line of the back. I clamped a piece of wood to use as a guide to keep the strip centered.
Next is where once again, the proper tools would make building a guitar easier. I knew I'd need some small pieces of wood to use as clamping cauls, so I bought a cheap piece of pine at the hardware store. I cut a piece as long as the center strip and thought I could clamp it on either end to hold down the strip when gluing. Seemed reasonable to me, and it even seemed to work when doing a dry-run of my clamping method. Problem was, that piece of pine isn't stiff enough so once I added glue, the center strip wouldn't lay flat because my pine caul was flexing too much. I tried adding a couple little shims to even out the clamping force, but that didn't work either.... so I had to resort to something else.....
I know what you're thinking.... a 1.75" thick 17" x 20" slab of ash probably IS overkill as a clamping caul, but it worked! Good thing I had these 2 pieces of wood laying around! (they will eventually be the bodies for my 2 electric guitar projects)
Next I need to make a trip to the hardware store to buy a chisel so I can continue bracing the back. Also, I think I know how I'm going to clamp all those radiused braces, so stayed tuned!