Making long bridges

Farrell mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
Thu, 18 Mar 2004 07:51:41 -0500


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Hi David,
  Looks like Ron N covered most of it. Letting an appropriate number of =
laminations terminate to form the doglegs, IMHO, is key to trouble-free =
vertically laminated bridge root lay-up. With this approach, there is no =
reason to ever use less bend at a dogleg than optimal. Below is a =
picture of my last bridge under clamps. I bond my laminations together =
with West System epoxy. I like epoxy because it takes the worry out of =
getting the right clamping pressure - just squish the assembly together =
so you get the proper shape and the clamps hold it until the epoxy cures =
- that's why I use so few clamps!

  The picture below shows the basic clamping set-up (epoxy has been =
applied).



  The picture below shows the raw root right after coming out of clamps. =
The pic is zoomed onto the two doglegs at the tenor/treble and =
treble/hi-treble breaks. You simply round off the terminated laminations =
and you have your dogleg.



  These and other pictures of this process are available if anyone wants =
to email me privately.

  Terry Farrell


  > >I need a crash course on bridge building (long bridges, bent =
laminated
  > >type).  Could use some suggestions on how I might go about getting
  > >information, how to make a template, what tools I might need, =
materials,
  > >etc..  Whatever can be offered would be appreciated.
  > >
  > >David Love
  >=20
  > Hi David,
  >=20
  > I use a rubbing (paper template) from the original configuration =
(before I=20
  > take the strings off) as a point of departure. After re-scaling, I =
use that=20
  > template to establish the new speaking lengths, which I use to lay =
out the=20
  > new bridge. Once you have the template for the new bridge, you need =
to=20
  > decide how you are going to build the bridge. You can cut it out =
from solid=20
  > stock, joined at the scale breaks to keep the grain running roughly=20
  > parallel to the bridge, or you can laminate it. You can laminate it=20
  > horizontally, putting the joints in each lamination in random places =
so the=20
  > strength of the assembly won't be compromised, which works fine. Or =
you can=20
  > laminate vertically, which means building a jig of some sort for =
clamping=20
  > the laminations to the required curve. I've done bridges with =
continuous=20
  > vertical laminations, but it's a lot more work than should be =
necessary for=20
  > a one-off bridge. You need laminations at 2mm or under to make the =
dogleg=20
  > bends at the struts to maintain a semi-log speaking length =
progression, and=20
  > a tremendous amount of clamp pressure.
  >=20
  > An easier way to do a vertically laminated bridge root is to use the =

  > lamination thicknesses to supply the dogleg offset and not have all =
the=20
  > laminations continuous for the length of the bridge. Terry Ferrell =
asked=20
  > about this a while back, and it looked like a good idea to me, so I =
tried=20
  > it. It works very well. Thanks Terry. You just have to build half a =
jig to=20
  > accommodate it, clamping the lamination stack against it without =
needing a=20
  > caul on the far side. Actually, I used backing strips to spread out =
clamp=20
  > pressure, but still didn't have to cut out a full caul. Since the =
core=20
  > laminations don't have to be forced into an extreme bend, it's =
considerably=20
  > easier to manage and takes much less clamp pressure. It just takes a =
little=20
  > more pondering and planning before the fact.
  >=20
  > That short stack of maple just above the bridge in the photo is the=20
  > laminated cap (1.5mm laminations), waiting to be cut and fitted to =
the=20
  > root. The bridge root is still rough cut here (hacked, actually), =
and will=20
  > be smoothed and contoured before the cap is installed.
  >=20
  > The laminations in this bridge vary from 2mm to maybe 5 or 6mm. I =
used what=20
  > I had lying around from previous projects that added up to the =
offsets I=20
  > needed for the doglegs. It's a tad over 30mm wide overall.
  >=20
  > To do this, you need a way to produce the required laminations - be =
it a=20
  > table saw or band saw, and (ideally) thickness planer. You need lots =
of=20
  > clamps (naturally), and scrap(able) lumber for building the jig. You =
also=20
  > need a glue that is reasonably hard and creep resistant. I use =
Titebond.=20
  > Realistically the glue used for laminating doesn't need to be able =
to hold=20
  > continents together without shifting under billions of PSI. Gluing =
the cap=20
  > on top, and the panel on the bottom of the root laminates will =
effectively=20
  > insure that nothing is going to slide apart with a reasonably decent =
glue.
  >=20
  > The rest is just the usual bridge work - or you can send me the =
original=20
  > rubbing and the offset revisions (or?) and we can work something =
out.

  > Ron N

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