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 Post subject: My First (two) Builds
PostPosted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:45 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I figure it may be fun to document my first two builds here, and maybe get some free advice along the way. So without further delay...

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This weekend I plan on thicknessing the backs and cutting them out to shape followed by bracing next weekend.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:35 pm 
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Walnut
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Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:53 am
Posts: 9
First name: jim
Last Name: millhollin
City: Bend
State: OR
Zip/Postal Code: 97702
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Nice pearl! Can you explain the use of the iron? Thanks Jim M


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:04 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hi Jim,

If you look at picture 2 above, you will see that I round the piece of patterned purfling that goes between the two layers of abalone before attempting to glue to the soundboard. The iron, with a little water, makes it super easy to preshape.


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PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:21 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Some more photos. Please let me know if you all have any criticisms, questions, or comments. As stated previously, I've never done this before!

[/img]http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g405/Ajcelestini/P1010026.jpg[/img]

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PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:25 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Some pictures of the top before I shape the braces tomorrow.

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And some pictures of my laundry room in my apartment. Notice I'm missing the normal staples of this room.

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:04 am 
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Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:34 pm
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First name: Rob
Last Name: McDougall
City: Cochrane
State: Alberta
Nice work!
Looks like you have done your homework :mrgreen:
How wide are those finger braces?


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:11 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Rob,

They are 8mm wide by 9.5mm tall right now. I'm going to start shaping the tops tonight.


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:48 pm 
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First name: Rob
Last Name: McDougall
City: Cochrane
State: Alberta
Carving the top braces is my favorite part of the build.....
Keep the pix coming! [:Y:]


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:29 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
First top carved. What do you guys think? Top thickness is .100.

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PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:32 pm 
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
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First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Nicely done!
I like your gobar deck, too.
Organized shop space is good, too.

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PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:15 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
A few updates below. Bending the sides, kerfing and rough pictures of the body. I have to say the most frustrating part of this process as of now has been the kerfing glue up. No one told me I would be cursing up a storm and throwing things around my shop during this part!!

Bought an LMI Side Bender. Worked very well, and I am spoiled.
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My least favorite part so far...
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Before some cleanup work. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.
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Can't wait to work on the binding this weekend and get everything clean and rough sanded
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:10 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2004 9:42 pm
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Location: Buffalo, NY
First name: Robert
Last Name: Cefalu
City: Buffalo
State: NY
Zip/Postal Code: 14217
Country: US
Looking good Andrew.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:04 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Bob,

A big thanks to you for supplying the amazing tonewoods that I'm using in most of the photos!


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:12 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
What do you guys think about gluing the purfling in first and then the binding? The jig I made worked well, but not perfect!

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:04 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
While cutting the the top binding channel, the cutting bit came loose and dug down about another 1.5mm! poop! I think I'm going to remedy the situation by using two strips of purfling across the top.
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Ready for binding
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Hog Tied. Hoping for good results when I unwarp at 1:00 pm!
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:34 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Just a couple quick snapshots of the binding. I will get some better photos once the second guitar is bound and I have some time to clean them up, fill in gaps, etc.

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PostPosted: Sun May 08, 2011 10:36 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
This weekend I built Robert O'Brien style jigs to help me cut the mortise and tenon. I also drew out the head design on some graph paper and began forming a template out of a scrap piece of wood.

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I'm pretty terrified to cut the mortise and tenon this week. The steaks are high and this is obviously my first time. Anyone have any suggest or words of wisdom? Of course pictures will follow, good or bad.


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PostPosted: Sun May 15, 2011 11:02 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
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PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2011 11:28 am 
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A.j.celestini wrote:
Some more photos. Please let me know if you all have any criticisms, questions, or comments. As stated previously, I've never done this before!

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One comment - Do not do this step without good safety glasses. Those bars can really fly out of there.

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PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2011 6:58 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
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PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2011 10:03 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Getting close! I did mess up on the first abalone fret position marker, gah! I had to put the tuners in there just get an idea of what the final product will look like.

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PostPosted: Sun May 29, 2011 11:35 pm 
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First name: Brian
State: NY/Granada
Country: USA/Spain
Focus: Build
it looks really nice. What type of tuners are you using?


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PostPosted: Mon May 30, 2011 10:35 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Tuners are Gotoh 510. Gold with Tortoise knobs.


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:12 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:05 am
Posts: 21
First name: Andrew
City: Springfield
State: MO
Zip/Postal Code: 65810
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Major building phase is done. I will prep the surface for the finish over the next couple of days and then start on that journey!

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:35 am 
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First name: Aaron
City: Mustang
State: OK
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Looks great, Brother! She is really going to shine under finish! Speaking of finish, what are you going to use?

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