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Jaybird's #3 challenge build
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10134&t=39082		 Page 2 of 4
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Insomnia is a wonderful thing. I woke up at 2am, and never went back to sleep. However, the box is now closed on #3.
Attachment:
box closed.jpg


Attachment:
closed box 2.jpg


Time to get started binding!!!
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
My wife is tied up at a conference all weekend... Got TONS done on the guitar today. I have discovered that I love working on the guitar outside in the morning sunlight--it really highlights any problem areas. To start prepping for binding, I sanded the top through 400 grit, and applied two spit coats of shellac.
Attachment:
2013-02-23 09.04.54.jpg


As I don't yet have any fancy binding equipment, I use my dremel with the stew-mac router base with edge guide, and a 3/32" spiral downcut bit. If I go slowly, I get pretty good results. Here is a shot of the binding and purfling rabbetts.
Attachment:
2013-02-23 14.05.08.jpg


Last is a shot of a small clipping of the herringbone purfling, and maple+bwb binding. Oh yeah, the fedex guy showed up with my Stew-Mac order (tuners, side dots, nut/saddle blank, CARRUTH SCRAPER!, binding, purfling, and fretwire.
Attachment:
2013-02-23 11.29.49.jpg
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
After getting the channels cut, I taped up four strips of binding, and fired up the fox bender....
Attachment:
2013-02-23 13.26.45.jpg
Attachment:
2013-02-23 13.38.06.jpg


And here's the whole enchilada cooking up some maple bindings in the garage....
Attachment:
2013-02-23 13.44.08.jpg


And here's the bindings after coming out of the bender.... No scorching or splits!!
Attachment:
2013-02-23 16.22.55.jpg


Now comes the miserable part, hand filing the channels to get them to proper thickness/depth. It was a good day in the garage!!
Author:  Randy Jones [ Sun Feb 24, 2013 12:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Wow. That is going to be a lovely guitar. Great work so far!
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Finally decided on the end flash.... this is what I came up with.
Attachment:
end flash.jpg
Author:  nickinbruns [ Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Looking good, Jay. I'll be intereseted in seeing how you tie the herrringbone into the bindings......

Nick
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Nick,

Here's how I handled it....

Image
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Very, very nice, Jay. I am enjoying watching your build. [:Y:]
Author:  Randy Jones [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
how could you bear to put a strap button on there?
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Thanks Casey and Randy. Casey, I'd love to talk engraving with you sometime--I'm a huge fan of english rose and scroll (I collect antique British doubles), and have several gravers that I purchased with the intent of learning to push-grave rose and scroll. I moved on to looking at pneumatic gravers like the ones Steve Lindsay sells over at engravingforum.com. The copper plate you put on your neck block was amazing. Do you use a pneumatic tool, or do you push/chasing hammer?

Take care!

--Jay
Author:  Casey Cochran [ Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Copper is very soft, so it can easily be done by hand. A square graver was used for all of the engraving except for the "guitars" and "No 002". A liner was used there. I use a GraverMax for firearms as the steel is much harder than silver, gold or platinum. Traditionally, fireams engraving was done using a hammer and chisel but since I started out as a jewelry engraver it was easier for me to use a pneumatic tool which keeps the graver in my right hand. The rotary handpiece attachment is also useful for inlay and the dental burs will allow for detailed wood carving on the neck heel, too.

You are obviously a fine craftsman, so it should not take long for you to learn to wield a graver with confidence. Design and layout are the keys to eye-pleasing engraving, so it's helpful to have some books on hand or even better some fine examples of scrollwork which you no doubt have in your collection. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Author:  wtholmwood [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Looks stunning Jay.
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
I just got caught up on your build thread, Jay, and ...... Stunning! Yourself and a few others are really setting the bar pretty high for this challenge. Really nice work! :D

Alex
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
OOOOHHHHHH..... shiny new toy!!

Attachment:
2013-03-18 18.14.22-2.jpg


Finally, time to get the back binding done... I'll be honest, although the tool is very well built, it is far from trouble-free binding rabbett cutting. After reading all the discussions about different binding jigs I settled on this one for its infinite adjustability without having to buy all the bearings for the williams-style jig. Now having seen it in action, I'm not sure I'd spend the $300 on it again. I glued up half the back bindings this morning, and will do the other half tonight. The box should be complete in a day or two....
Author:  Clinchriver [ Tue Mar 19, 2013 10:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Jay
What issues did you have with your binding gizmo? I cobbled together one using my router table and I'm not sold on mine either? I have the parts to build a Williams/Flieschman but the Kett looks promising.
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Binding is done, and the box is finished (except for minor scraping, sanding, finish prep). I'm waiting on my Simpson neck jig to get here to get the neck fitted to the body. I'm close now!
Attachment:
2013-03-21 19.40.41.jpg


and moistened slightly to show the true color....

Attachment:
2013-03-21 19.41.42.jpg


Attachment:
2013-03-21 19.43.09.jpg


The bindings are pretty bright, and I may think about using a darker toned shellac to knock them down a bit. Onward!
Author:  Doug Balzer [ Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Looking really good!
Author:  GuitarJerry [ Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Wow!! Jay!!!
Excellent choice of woods!! Really looks great!!!
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Hey Jay, that is looking really nice. Your neck jig is all packed up and will ship out this morning. Should get there over the weekend. Sorry I didn't get it out sooner but work has been busy and we've been rehearsing hard for a concert this weekend.
Author:  ntredwell [ Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Looking really good!

I cant wait until I get the body closed up hopefully in the next couple of weeks.
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Time to correct a little "issue"... oops_sign I was scraping the purfling on the back approximately where the heel will sit, and I guess my purfling channel wasn't deep enough. Out comes a 1/2" chunk. Hmmmm.... how to fix this one. I pulled out one of the bits I use for inlay, and measure...0.030" Lucky for me, that is the exact same width as my purfling. So here's what I did..... I took my dremel with stew-mac edge guide and 0.030" bit as shown:
Attachment:
purfling router.jpg


and routed a little deeper slot like so....
Attachment:
purfling botch.jpg


And stuck a new piece in slathered in Titebond (hoping it would swell to fit a little). We'll see what it looks like when I shave it down tomorrow.
Attachment:
purfling fix.jpg


--Jaybird
Author:  Clinchriver [ Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
That will work. Great progress.
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
put a quarter-round on the bindings (see my thread on the main board) using a fine file and sandpaper. Decided to forego the router setup. It's amazing how much more finished the guitar looks with the binding edges rounded over. Very slick!
Attachment:
2013-03-26 20.44.47.jpg
Attachment:
2013-03-27 06.56.37.jpg
Author:  Tony_in_NYC [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Great work so far. I hope that bit of purfling comes out nicely. I had an issue with some purfling on my first OM. The purfs on the side broke as I bent them into place. I didn't think anything of it until I started scraping them flush. That's when the break revealed itself at the surface and I had two small gaps. I filled them with wedge shaped pieces and the repair ended up beind invisible, but it was one of those moments when you learn yet another thing that can go wrong with a build that you had never thought of!
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Jaybird's #3 challenge build
Tony_in_NYC wrote:
Great work so far. I hope that bit of purfling comes out nicely. I had an issue with some purfling on my first OM. The purfs on the side broke as I bent them into place. I didn't think anything of it until I started scraping them flush. That's when the break revealed itself at the surface and I had two small gaps. I filled them with wedge shaped pieces and the repair ended up beind invisible, but it was one of those moments when you learn yet another thing that can go wrong with a build that you had never thought of!


I have nothing to worry about, Tony. My pet billy goat will nibble that little piece of purfling flush--no need to sand. :mrgreen:
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