Cutting Golpeadors

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Cutting Golpeadors

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krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

Cutting Golpeadors

What's the best way to get really neat curved cuts on the clear plastic used for tap plates?
I've been using scissors which is ok but not as neat as the golpeadors you see on factory made guitars.

The stuff I'm using is clear plastic 0.25 mm thick with an adhesive backing

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Kevin Richards

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2008 2:42:25

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

quote:

but not as neat as the golpeadors you see on factory made guitars.

Buy a very expensive machine that will stamp them out. This way your guitars will look just like a factory guitar. (Irony??---Yes

)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2008 5:50:32

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

Honestly, a lot of factory guitars inspected closely you see the same imperfections you find on handmade concert instruments. Just use scissors and be careful. The ONE golpeador I cut and put on, I simply traced the old one I removed. I noticed the original was far from perfect, but no one can tell. I think I cut my new one BETTER than the old one.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2008 6:01:10

ChiyoDad

Posts: 151
Joined: Jun. 30 2007
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

I installed golpeadors on one of my guitars. I used a Fiskar circle cutter for the soundhole area and a very sharp blade and a steel ruler for the straight edges. To round off the corners, I marked them with a edge of a penny and cut them carefully with a sharp scissors.

To minimize errors, I taped the golpeador material to my cutting pad when using the circle cutter. I also tested my pattern with regular paper before cutting the actual golpeador.

It turned out rather well. I inspected golpeadors on some other guitars and mine was better-fitting than most.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2008 8:52:35

sig

Posts: 296
Joined: Nov. 7 2007
From: Wisconsin

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

I have installed two of them, I took some measurments of an exsisting Golpeador from an instrument and then I used a French Curve to get the proper radius. Inorder to get a good clean "cut" after tracing the pattern on the material I used both a pair of sissors and an Exacto knife. I found the sissors to work best but I used the knife for cutting out the sound hole portion. When your installing it, make sure you square it up at the bridge and then slowly press it into place while working out any air bubbles. I've found that once it's pressed on the top, it won't come off... easily...
Sig--

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2008 8:58:55

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to sig)

quote:

I've found that once it's pressed on the top, it won't come off... easily...
Sig--

Actually its much easier than most people think to get these things off.
You use a hairdryer and gently heat and pull starting at a corner. If you use the minimum heat you won't damage the finish.

If its only just been stuck down, you'll get all the glue off as well, but if its been on a while lots of glue will be left behind. This can then be removed with lighter fluid.

Nerve wracking but easy!

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Kevin Richards

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2008 21:12:54

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

Did you try that on a french polished top?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 5:38:09

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

quote:

ORIGINAL: krichards

quote:

I've found that once it's pressed on the top, it won't come off... easily...
Sig--

Actually its much easier than most people think to get these things off.
You use a hairdryer and gently heat and pull starting at a corner. If you use the minimum heat you won't damage the finish.

If its only just been stuck down, you'll get all the glue off as well, but if its been on a while lots of glue will be left behind. This can then be removed with lighter fluid.

Nerve wracking but easy!

http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=78861&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 5:43:17

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

Did you try that on a french polished top?

No! What happens? I guess you're telling me it doesn't work on shellac?

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Kevin Richards

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 8:59:24

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

I have no idea, I wouldnt dare.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 8:08:57

Samarto

Posts: 160
Joined: Mar. 21 2008

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

To answer the original question ... after you cut it out carefully then smooth the edges with 400 grit silicon carbide paper before removing the backing. Be sure to stay on the edges and off the top. You can finish it off with 600 grit if you want a nicer finish edge. Use the SC paper either wet or dry.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 27 2008 12:55:32

Samarto

Posts: 160
Joined: Mar. 21 2008

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

quote:

No! What happens? I guess you're telling me it doesn't work on shellac?

It depends on the adhesive and how long the plate has been on. I really messed up the spruce top on a french polished flamenco removing the plate. I never use heat ... my opinion ... HEAT AND FINE GUITAR TOPS DON'T MEET AS FRIENDS! You may damage the finish, cause the top to crack, or loosen braces none of which is desirable.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 27 2008 13:11:43

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to Samarto)

quote:

smooth the edges with 400 grit silicon carbide paper before removing the backing.

Since my original post i've improved my scissor technique and it works well now but this is a really useful tip thankyou

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 27 2008 13:39:38

PhilW

Posts: 8
Joined: Sep. 7 2007

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to krichards)

I use my wife's scrapbooking corner cutters - works great but it pisses her off.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 7 2009 16:38:45

prd1

Posts: 206
Joined: Jul. 11 2007

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to PhilW)

I use some real sharp scissors that my wife uses doing embroidery - she's probably ******ed of but I can't really tell - she seems to reach that point on a daily basis when I steal some oxygen that she could have breathed.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 8 2009 5:44:57

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Cutting Golpeadors (in reply to prd1)

quote:

I use some real sharp scissors that my wife uses doing embroidery

That's shocking....and scissors are so cheap.

I'm not surprised she's cut your oxygen supply

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Kevin Richards

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 9 2009 0:21:06