Cleat placement tool

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orsonw

Posts: 2111
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

Cleat placement tool

With the intention that this could be of interest; I've decided to risk wandering onto the luthiers' lawn.
I imagine that the experienced luthiers would not need this, and may be angered by my naive trespassing!

"Cleatus allows you to perfectly install cleats using a viewing film so you can see through the wood."

https://musiccitybridge.com/products/cleatus

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 14 2025 11:22:34

estebanana

Posts: 9921
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Cleat placement tool (in reply to orsonw)

I’d like to try that magnet film. If the top is spruce I stick a light bulb in the guitar and also mark the cracks on the outside. Cedar a bit harder because it’s not translated enough to see through with a light bulb.

Thank you Orson for risking the wrath of uptight gatekeeping luthier bros, I learned something. Which is something I’ll rarely admit.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 15 2025 17:17:39

RobF

Posts: 1792
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: Cleat placement tool (in reply to orsonw)

I also use an LED light puck and magnets inside and out to mark where the cleat goes and then also magnets to glue the cleats. What I like about this idea is the ability to keep the glued cleat away from the top while positioning it. I doubt I'd use this, in part because it's kind of specific to its own cleats although it wouldn't be a big deal to make your own to fit the jig. The way I see it, it's another helpful jig that most already have their own work-arounds for and also, at least to me, sits in the category of one of the thousands of useful gadgets out there that mainly exist to part people from their ill or not-so-ill begotten gains.

Not sure about gatekeeper wrath. Don't really see much of that on this foro, most of the luthiers here are pretty free and open with sharing info. I've learned a pile of stuff hanging out here.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 15 2025 17:43:56