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One handy way to keep things symmetrical when using a spoke shave is to draw chamfer lines on the corners, use the shave to trim to the lines, then draw new lines and chamfer the chamfers. Using a spoke shave is an enjoyable less dusty way to refine the neck shape, but without the guide lines I sometimes find myself going too far.

+1

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

A 330 ish. After I attach the back, I will cut the "spine" away leaving just neck, bridge and tail blocks.



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Ken

Finishing an Explorer build.
Down to wiring, nut, and setup.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

My favorite spokeshaves are of the parallel blade type. I seem to be able to control them much better and get a better cut out of them. They are fun to make and we all have a piece of nice wood around we could make a body out of. The blades are available from Dave's Shaves, Ron Hock, and I even think Veritas has them.

The first one is boxwood from a neighbor's old old landscaping that got replaces. It has a flat bottom
The second one is a piece of purpleheart from a tall ship I work on. It has a gently curved bottom
The third, small one was made by a friend and it is, I believe lignum vitae. It has a very curved bottom

I find I can almost do everything with the purpleheart one, but in a case where I want to make a very straight line, like the shaft of a neck, sometimes I do better with the straight bottom

Ed

Sweet Ed, I like them shaves.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Hi Ed,
Very nice home made shaves. I have a couple of commercial spoke shaves, but at some point I think I will try making one or two wooden bodied shaves. They are lighter in weight and can be made to fit the hand better. When I make hand tools I like to use nicer woods. Our tools are one of the few projects we tend to keep around us.

Here is a place to start - as I mentioned, there are others

http://www.ncworkshops.com/parts_service.html

One cool feature of this styles shave is a small screw under each end of the blade into the body. You spin the screw in or out to adjust the depth of cut, then that setting is kept when you remove the blade for sharpening and put it back. I was taught to adjust one end a little wider than the other so you can do more course work and more fine work with the same tool. Takes just a bit of getting used to, but works great.

Ed

Got a tight rosette in this morning;)



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Continuing the maple OM... This build is going to be distinctly black and white, with maple B&S and ebony fingerboard and bridge.

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Ramping a slothead for the figured maple 00-12.



And truing up the 12" 5hp tablesaw I rebuilt this summer. (Insert Tim "the tool man" Taylor grunting sounds...)

I am getting close on my Christmas twin ukuleles for the a set of twin girls in the neighborhood. I am in the final stages of the French Polish process. I have spirited them off with straight alcohol today and plan to spend another day with a few more bodying sessions. When is one ever finished while French Polishing. Finishing with the bridges on is a pain, but I like to wait a couple of weeks for the shellac to cure before using my vacuum clamp and Christmas is coming.

I got the profiled sets, Honduras mahogany and claro walnut, from Brad Goodman, also the John Mayes necks (changed to my logo) from the classifieds some years back.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I am glad to see the wood has been used for such nice instruments.....

I really like that inlay!

Those are a couple of lucky girls!

Just picking this up from the finisher to put together.







It’s been awhile. Hope I remember what’s next.


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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Really nice finish Rod. What is it?

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Hey Steve. This is my first finish from Vancouver Guitar Finishing. It’s a UV cured polyester. I’m super happy to have passed this process off to someone else.


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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Sorted out a "sharpening station" at last. Had stuff in several places, so felt I was wasting time and energy.
Everything to hand in one place - diamond plates, Japanese stones, flattening stone, various sharpening guides, projection jigs and non-slip tray for the wet stuff.
Now if I can just remember where I put that dang pencil....

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

That's a great idea Colin. I need to do that...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Time for cleaning up the shop. I completed and strung up my soprano ukuleles. They are the first sopranos I have made so I am not sure how they are suppose to sound but they are loud and do sound like a ukulele

A couple of Soprano Ukuleles.
The first honduras mahogany back sides and front, one claro walnut back sides and front. Shellac French Polish Finish.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Those sound great John...nicely done...

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Thank You and Best To All