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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 11, 2010 at 9:42am

I had some square cedar that came inside one of the boxes I got. I just put it on the band saw and cut it into long triangles and glued it inside the box to beef up one that was pretty weak.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 11, 2010 at 10:14am

Normally you don't have warping. What kind of box are you using?

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Keith Weser on September 11, 2010 at 11:08am

I am using a cedar box it has finger joints at the corners looks like it is well built. We had really hot weather a couple of weeks ago that's when it warped. I've placed a damp towel in the bottom and placed clamps at all corners it will stay square for a bit but after the box dries out it will start to warp again. I'm thinking if I can brace it while it is still squareHattiehat will take care of it.

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Permalink Reply by Robert John Spotti on September 11, 2010 at 11:47am

Keith,If I'm understanding you correctly the warp in on the bottom if so I would leave it alone.Any bracing that would be strong enough to take out the bow might hurt the acoustics a bit.If it is on the top try a damp towel and a steam iron flatten it out with moisture and heat wieght it down or clamp it let it sit overnite.Good Luck

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Permalink Reply by Keith Weser on September 11, 2010 at 12:04pm

Robert,
I'm using the lid for the sound board so bracing the bottom shouldn't effect the acoustics too much unless I go over board ? Is that correct ? I'm new at this so I may be wrong

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Permalink Reply by Robert John Spotti on September 12, 2010 at 12:04am

Keith,I'd agree with that give it a try,and see what you get.If your running your neck thru the box a small piece of wood between the neck and box would work.Might be a good spot to sandwich a piezo.

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Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on September 12, 2010 at 1:05am

Well, the whole box vibrates and adds to the sound unless you play with it snugged up against your body.
Notice how a lot of the long timers here have their cbg on a corner on their leg or at least the back away from their body?
There isn't a lot to work with acoustically so you need/want all you can get.

IMHO If it's not affecting the playability, let it be. If it gets your OCD ( wink, wink) cranked up, replace the box. It's cheap,it's cheap wood, if it's gonna warp, it'll warp. Bracing may cause it to crack.

Besides, the warp might be adding character and mojo.

Matt

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 12, 2010 at 3:50am

Amen Matt.

So Keith, one of the things to look at, and you answered that question is, some folks who first dive into building might come across one of those boxes from a convenience store. Its not too common, in fact its rather rare here, but these boxes of that type are not very usable. Not that they can't be, but they are much thinner. Sounds like you have a good box and if its warped, you might want try to straighten it -- maybe. I had a Cohiba lid that was bowed and took it off, steamed it, wet it with prolonged paper towel and then clamped it flat, but it really didn't help much.

If you are REALLY needing to make it straight, undo all the panels as best as possible, wet or steam them, clamp them flat somehow, leave them be a few months. Maybe that will relax any warp.

-WY

Matt Towe said:

Well, the whole box vibrates and adds to the sound unless you play with it snugged up against your body.
Notice how a lot of the long timers here have their cbg on a corner on their leg or at least the back away from their body?
There isn't a lot to work with acoustically so you need/want all you can get.

IMHO If it's not affecting the playability, let it be. If it gets your OCD ( wink, wink) cranked up, replace the box. It's cheap,it's cheap wood, if it's gonna warp, it'll warp. Bracing may cause it to crack.

Besides, the warp might be adding character and mojo.

Matt

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