bluesuke
Well-known member
I was wondering if anyone new a good source for Graphite rods?
Graphite rods
- Thread starter bluesuke
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Bradford
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Other than Stew-Mac and LMI, you can find them in a pinch at kite shops and hobby shops that cater to R/C aircraft.
Brad
Brad
Tarhead
Well-known member
Check with Jim Watts and his daughter. http://jameswattsguitars.com/LAC.htm That's what I have used in my steel string necks in the past. You can also get similar product from LMI. The CF rod at RC and Hobby shops are not the same thing. Much weaker.
Into The Wind in Boulder, CO has them, along with little rubber tips if you're using them for gears.
BR Ukuleles
Well-known member
The last bunch I got were at The Composite Store
OP
OP
bluesuke
Well-known member
Thanks everyone. Allen there prices look the best and they have a great selection ,Thanks
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
Well-known member
Do you have a link for the product you use Allen? I order from the Composite Store frequently and have never seen a size useful for neck reinforcement. (The dimension I use now is .200" X .250".) I'm probably just not seeing it.
Pete Howlett
Well-known member
I am totally ambivalent towards CF in uke necks. Has anyone ever seen neck deflection caused by string tension? I confess I haven't and yet I bought some 8mm CF box section from my local RC model suppliers - it's as stiff as anything and I am going to put it in some new builds as an experiment... why swim against the current eh?
Dave Higham
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I think Jim Watts has stopped trading. I got my last CF here:
http://www.dragonplate.com/
Recommended by people on other luthery forums (and me).
http://www.dragonplate.com/
Recommended by people on other luthery forums (and me).
dave g
Well-known member
Not in a ukulele... But even so, I've quit making tenor size banjoleles because I worry about it.
I have seen guitars with bowed necks that I *assumed* was cause by string tension.
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
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Yes, I've seen them. Most ukes over a few years old will develop a bit of relief.
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Kekani
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Like Chuck, I've seen them as well. Personally, once I started using CF rods, it was like adding weight to the headstock - sustain went up noticeably, without adding any weight. Of course, I'm sure the geared tuning machines help, too.
-Aaron
fromthee2me
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Hi Pete, you made this video, and I am not sure whether my Tenor has got them in ? It was around the time you were doing, Ken Middleton and my Tenor in a batch of 5 ?? http://www.youtube.com/user/PeteHowlett?blend=3&ob=5#p/u/68/NFcI5gFvdkE
agilitydog
Well-known member
I'd be interested also because I couldn't find .200"x.250" either. Chuck, what are your parameters for "useful for neck reinforcement"? Ever use multiple rods that are thinner and taller? Or other shapes trapezoid, hollow square, or hollow tube?
Moore Bettah Ukuleles
Well-known member
You can buy them through Stew Mac. Honestly, in most cases you don't need a composite rod in a four string tenor neck if you use the right wood with good grain and no defects. I think it's important to choose your neck wood carefully and do some testing on it. But we're only talking about 40# of string tension over a 10" span. Any dimension over .200" X .250" is absolute overkill.
I do it because I build for "worst case scenario" situations and my ukes are shipped all over the world to varying environments. Fort me it's cheap insurance. I do many things that I don't talk about (and probably won't) to ensure that my instruments are bullet proof. The last thing I want to do is to have to make repairs on my own instruments.
I do it because I build for "worst case scenario" situations and my ukes are shipped all over the world to varying environments. Fort me it's cheap insurance. I do many things that I don't talk about (and probably won't) to ensure that my instruments are bullet proof. The last thing I want to do is to have to make repairs on my own instruments.
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mketom
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Moore Bettah Ukuleles
Well-known member
That's a great resource. Thanks for that!
