Official Luthiers Forum!

This thread is for them that just don't get bondo.

Every so often I'll add a pic or two of what bondo is all about.

So here be the first....

Is small, odd shaped, and you need slices of off it, or gotta drill it or whatever you gotta do to it that may be too close for finger comfort...well you use BONDO!

see pics.






Get it yet?

blessings
the
Padma

_________________
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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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It is also handy for filling binding gaps and other slight blemishes... you know for when you want a truly seamless finish....

Yep, with enough Bondo, duct tape, bailing wire, and shoe goo, there's no limit to what a feller can do....

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

whats burl and what is it used for?

You're the man, Padma. I always get a fresh perspective checking out your posts. Thanks!

That was a Tagua(sp?) nut,a palm tree nut known as vegetable ivory. Woodcraft Supply sells them. They aren't as hard as ivory,and don't have growth rings like ivory. They are still pretty hard,though.

Ummm...well

A burl (British bur or burr) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds.

People pay big bucks for the honour of converting it to sawdust...in the process they might end up with a bowl or some veneer.

In the pics you are actualy seen a nut as George pointed out...but be it a nut or a hunk of burl, no matter...its small and the bondo holds it while cutting.

any other questions?


blessings
the
Padma

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

Sorry to disappoint, but no Duct tape was harmed during the re-construction of The Esteban.... though you give me a *VERY* good idea about what to do with all of those big dings in the back...

but Shoe goo? Shoe goo is for Amateurs... Real hackers use PVC pipe glue to stick everything together with!

Thanks

John

I'll admit, pvc cement does add a certain ambiance to a small, poorly ventilated room....

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Ever strip the finish off of a painted Electric guitar?
I never knew you could make a guitar entirely out of Knots and Bondo... Calling one of those things "Wood" is like saying a Pinata is made of Steel...

Thanks

John

I read on some forum somewhere that nose pickings from people raised in Brazil have a better tap tone than domestic nose pickings.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

I think Padma's idea is very simple, informed, and sociable. I like my fingers.

Thanks!

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Tom Krebs

Same here.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Same here here.

In case it wasn't clear, I don't think anyone was making fun of it. I was making fun of myself and my love of quick and dirty fixes like that.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Yes Yes Yes ....exactly were you expect to find BONDO...under the solid finish on some cheap guitar, doing its job, and doing it very well....I might ad. And so what?

Riddled? "RIDDLED?" like a shot gun blast eh?

Chris, come on dude, the stuff is carfully applied and then sculpted by hand by skilled craftsmen in some third world country factories assembly line. Is that a reason to belittle the medium. Sorry ...NOT!

You think Little Johnny's old man gonna lay down a few grand on an axe just to make sure it ain't got bondo in it.? Ya right, give me a break...the old man knows Johnny gonna trash the thing in a few months anyways.

Like Chris, what you expect for $149. with case and amp?

Get with the program Chris...this is a cheap, mass produced, self destruct, disposable society we live in.

BONDO dude, Bondo! It workes majic! YA!



the
Padma

_________________
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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

In my opinion Bondo has no place in the custom guitar world.... not even for jigs or to hold stuff down.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

The Padma's idea was an actual Good idea... the sort of thing I would tell folks to do to avoid cutting the end of a finger clean off... Ever try to saw something Round on a band saw.... Let's just say that it ends up taking a "Turn for the Worse"

My ideas on the other hand.... well.... It seemed like the thing to do at the time!

Now... What's all this about Pay... Who said anything about people Paying for my work... But... I really do like Todd's idea of "Guitar Expansion Joints" -- I think I need to try one of those out on my next guitar... I am thinking just like a driveway... 1 long one down the middle and 2 across the width... I bet I could use Tub Caulk to keep it from showing....

Anyway, lest I Besmirch the Reputation of "Real Bondo" -- that wouldn't be caught Dead on an Esteban gutiar... Here is what I really used:


Notice how it CLEARLY says "Rebuild, Repair, and Restore" -- well, I was using it for all 3!

Thanks

John

What?!! Not Bondo????

Wow, I bet you were lying about the PVC cement too!!

Now what am I gonna do with the 5 gallons I just ordered?

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Hmmm.. Five gallons eh?

I guess you could open a plumbing shop. I hear there is at least
a little money in that business!!

Those being funny - I salute you as it makes apleasent change from the very serious...'Luthiery does seem very serious' - buut I was intrigued by some of the 'material snobbery' evident disguised as humour.

Surely the rule is simple - you use the best you can afford that will do a job well and safely. I dont get the 'BONDO' specific jokes as I dont think you get it here in the UK, but there seems to be a good laugh about teh stuff, because its either a) cheap and nasty or b) Cr** or c)both... but I wonder how many non builders would be equally surprized that handmade guitars often costing many $000s often have elements constructed using 'SupaGlu TM' aka CA?

Bondo is for amateurs real pros use JB weld

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Sometimes, it comes in pretty handy!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

hey waddy.....i thought that i was the only one whos work bench area looked that chaotic ........that tels me your to busy makin to tidy up......lol ....thats my exuse anyway

joe

Yo Chris...regarding the people that are not serious...May me assure you that me not be one of them.

Gee Chris...sorry to hear that my simple approach to building causes you to "Freek out"...perhaps you might wanna get some professional help with that.

Oh and thank you for suggestion and implying that because of "Bondo"
my work is "sub-par" Not only is it below par, but me actualy scored
"a hole in one" once (see pic)



Now Chris...regarding "problems" ...there are no "problems"...only situations and challenges. Best not view life in the negetive don't you think.

"How luthiers role"....hmm tell us Chris, this knowledge you posess of "what we don't need " and "how luthiers role" ...did you acquire it
between your first and second build or was this imperical wisdom attained on your last build. You have only done three I believe.

Ok, now...lets take a look at fostering a society of sub-par work....Too late! America shops at Wal Mart. Has been since befor you was born.


Sorry but the Padma has to correct you on this point Chris.... Me the Padma must confess that in all of my writings and posts over the last 6 years on a half dozen or so luthier sites...I have only used bondo on one build. You must have missunderstood the purpose of that build....it was highly experimental. So here I must ask you to speak truth and get your facts straight if you are invoking my name...there is a big differenc with once and many. Just because one speeks with toung and cheek for the humour it produces does not mean you gotta take it seriously....but then in your case, maybe you do. Do you?


Finaly regarding
the Padmas
Philosophy and Approach to Lutherierisem

Let me be very clear here....I don't got one.

Furthermore I am upfront about it on every post....perhaps Chris you migh have missed the line....it goes like this...

"If it gets the pig clean ...use it!"

Now it appears that you do not apprecialte the Padmas take on building, as it causes you to have "freek outs" and we don't want that now do we, so may I most humbley accord you ...the privialge of not reading any of my posts.

See problem solved.

Now and even though your data is a bit off,...let me thank you Mr. Verhoevenc for posteing you comments.


Blessings
the
Padma

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

What tools, and jigs and such, you use should have little or nothing to do with the quality of the work you produce. If you figured out a way to use salad tongs to bend figured woods, and it works well for you...than go for it! If using CA to hold down an inlay until you get the epoxy mixed with dust...so what? Hot pipe with a torch...or an electric blanket? It's like asking if the Porsche was built with generic screw drivers, or if the old Ford truck was built with hand forged high carbon steel screw drivers. It...just...doesn't...matter!

If you do end up using 'alternative' materials in your instruments, just be honest about it. If a client is likely to get twisted up about what it is build out of, then you build to their tastes/wants. A large number of the players I know (though many wouldn't be able to afford a $6K guitar) are more worried with how it sounds, then how it looks. They almost never talk about what it is made of, unless is is obvious or directly effects an aspect of the instrument they want to elaborate on.

Again...if you make something with exclusively traditional tools and methods (no synthetic glues, no powered sanders, etc) then be very proud that you have the skills and patience to do that! I know I don't! But please, do not 'step down on' the folks that are doing what they can with what they have. Necessity is the mother of all invention...but an inspired mind and heart can get crushed way to easily.

Ok....getting down of my soap box now.

Oh...I almost forgot. Be sure to check on the import/export laws about nose pickings from some countries...the tariffs can be a real b*tch.


-Matthew