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  • If you can't hold the joint together using only hand strength when you are dry fitting then you are asking for trouble.

    Out of curiosity what plane did youuse to prep it?

    Apologies for coming in and telling seasoned guitar builders stuff but this applies to the type of work I regularly do with other kinds of woodworking.

  • You are of course right. but hindsight, etc.

    I didn't plane it, my mate did, with a machine. At least the flats.
    The edges I planed with a tiny Kunz 102 handplane. Totally the wrong tool for the job, but alas there is actually no other plane in my workshop. Got to spend some cash on a proper one sometime.

  • An apron plane will just cause you issues with surfaces that you are trying to joint it is just possible to prep a surface ready for jointing with a no. 4 bailey pattern smoothing plane but the attention to detail has to be spot on and you have to be well practiced. The shortest plane I would ever use to prep edges for jointing is a 5 1/2 bailey pattern (jack plane) and it's also what I would recommend for people who are looking to refine their skills. It is tempting to use a 6, 7 or even 8 but the extra sole length on these planes actually start to present issues as expansion and contraction with changes in temperature can cause the sole to bow slightly.

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