Timber for Guitar Making Jigs

[Woodsy23]

I'm fairly new to building acoustic guitars (although I have built a small number of electrics) and I am in the process of constructing the various jigs, cauls etc that are required, many of which will be made from hardwood.

I am seeking opinions on the most suitable type of hardwood (available in Australia) to use. Obviously the wood has to be reasonably hard and dimensionally stable. What would be the best, most readily available and cheapest timbers to use for this purpose?

[kiwigeo]

I use mainly MDF or plywood for my jigs.

[lauburu]

+1 for plywood. Cheap(ish), dimensionally stable, holds screws etc, withstands moisture

[Woodsy23]

OK Plywood sounds good. What would you use for thicker pieces (>30mm) eg for cauls to glue fretboards, radiused sanding blocks etc.

Woodsy

[kiwigeo]

OK Plywood sounds good. What would you use for thicker pieces (>30mm) eg for cauls to glue fretboards, radiused sanding blocks etc.

Woodsy

All of my cauls are cork lined so the wood can be anything Ive got handy around the shop. My fretboard cauls are all lengths of MDF (25-30mm) with cork facing.

[martintaylor]

+1 on the plywood. I usually use minimum of 18mm for jigs etc. As for >30mm I glue up 2 sheets of 25mm MDF (titebond). Super stable and with a couple of coats of danish oil to seal it stays nice and smooth.

[simso]

I use mdf, its easily cut on the laser, can be glued up to make different thickness's and costs 20 bucks for a piece 2400mm by 1200mm, hard to beat that.

[nnickusa]

$20 a sheet. I wish. Not in my neighbourhood.

I have used MDF, but generally use anything that is a t hand. Plywood, not smaller than 1/2", MDF, Pine boards, scrap stuff from my building days. Stuff I want to use a number of times, other than forms. is usually from hardwood left over from those days....

One sheet of ply makes for lots of forms and the bodies for lots of jigs too....