Official Luthiers Forum!

Guys,

Would there be an interest in molds that are cnc'd for using your duplicarving machines for making the top and back of F-5 or A-5 mandolin? We could probably offer the binding already cut out, at least on the scroll area (which is the most difficult as far as I'm concerned)

I was thinking about using Corian or Hanex for the molds. We have not produced this product yet but we have had some interest. What would be a fair pirce if we offered this product?

Thanks,

Kevin Waldron
Waldron Instruments, Inc.

if you're talking about duplicarver templates, I would be much interested. I was about to make some of my own, but haven't quite figured out how I was going to do it... - Justin

Kevin,

I am interested in a set of templates. Corian would be a great medium. No binding channels please, and, slightly over-sized/extra material by at least 1/8" around the rim, and slightly over-sized in thickness. Please add some ears at both ends to secure them to the table as well.
What is your time frame for delivery?

thanks,

Kevin, let us know when you have them available. I don't really need the binding channels either, but some tabs for fastening them down is a good idea. -
Justin

Kevin, I'd be interested in some concave molds. This is not quite what you are doing here but if you already have the profiles in a CAD format you could easily make them into inverse molds. Not exactly what you were asking here so it is OK to PM me or send me email to alan at dunwellguitar DOT com and we can chat offline.

Alan D.

Kevin, just checking in to see how these are coming. - Justin

Guys,

Sorry for the long delay in getting back with you'll but been really busy. We are now working on various molds both positive and negative and we are experimenting with various materials that would work best for a duplicarver etc. to follow. Hope to be able to give you some definite prices and materials that we could offer these in within the next 30 days. We have also been working on other instruments besides mandolin that require complex/compound carving..... violin...cello.....double bass....arch tops etc. We are also playing with the idea of steam bending halves to molds and gluing the halves together after they are formed, so we've been trying to find something that would hold up to heat etc. We're also trying to find out if you have to over compensate for the curves/carvings and spring back. Frank Finocchio has been steam bending all of his arch top guitars for some time now. Advantage is that you can use 3/8"-1/4" material to do the job and not have to cut thick stock. Most builders that I know feel that not cutting the radi makes the instrument stronger and may make the instrument have a fuller sound.... but disagreement will ...... always ...... disagree. I want take sized but I do like the fact that you can use thinner stock and probably a more varied variety of woods that haven't been used in the past.

Side note: we have been spending a lot of our time on inlay technique with the laser and we are going to be able to cut fret boards on the laser and we will have most of Depauls & Dominic Art stuff done so that we can laser pocket most of their popular inlay designs and offer these for sale with your choosen fret scale. Bottom photo shows tree of life in the ebony (the inlay is corian and the Asian rosewood is black plastic) super glue still on boards in for ground. We will also be able to offer the male part in wood and several other things if you want to use something sides MOP or Pau etc.

Thanks for your patience, just seems like it is taking forever.

Kevin