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Porefilled and shellac sealed a matched pair of mahogany dreads, my first two double M&T's. Built a new spray booth that actually exhausts to the outside world. Intended to paint them but for some reason the shellac sanded all gummy. Made a bending pattern for a parlour and bent the sides binding and purfling for #48, Aussie Blackwood. Oh, and lost half a tooth to a peach pit in a Starbucks yoghurt, assisted the local constabulary in nabbing a B&E'r, and shared a bottle of 1995 Amarone Classico ...busy weekend!

Wow.. been working on the compressor and system as it looses the fight with all the heat and humidity. Had to replace a section of hose that gave out due to the high temps and add a new filtration system and auto moisture relief. One of my pencil die grinders gave out when the inline filter let too much moisture through. You want to see runout... just pour a cup of h20 down the line and let 'er rip.

Got it all back in order enough to start on some inlay on this banjo... you probably can't see it in the pic though as it is quite invisible to the average human. One needs to be in tune with "wudwerker's" avatar to look at it straight on.

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

I'm well on my way to a completed box:


Definitely liking the freestanding construction style. It is just a tad asymmetrical, but plenty close for my taste. As suspected, I didn't even need a workboard or a right angle clamp for the headblock or anything. The top is sprung into a nice dome by braces arched by hand plane. Then just set it on a cork edge lining ala Cumpiano book (but not clamped down like he does), sanded an angle into the head and tail blocks so they stood vertical when set in their glue spots, and stuck them down with hide glue rub joints. Anyone who has never tried one, give it a shot. It's pretty cool.

Then I glued the sides to the blocks, clamped with cam clamps dangling off, but alternating directions to balance themselves. Didn't bother gluing the sides to the top, since they'll pretty much be removed for binding anyway. Just pushed down the small gap at the waist and glued the first tentellones to hold it down, and then proceeded outward from there. But then I didn't notice the gap around the bass side lower bout until I had a lot of tentellones glued to it already It's only about 1mm though, so no problem once binding is in.

After that, did a bit more tapping and shaving of braces. Sounds pretty good now, although I may still sand the top a little thinner. Lastly, I tapered the sides with my trusty block plane, mostly just by eye and guessing at the archedness. We shall see if anything bad happens because of that.


Also, Brock finally got this koa set to me from an auction a couple months ago:

So everyone who's been complaining about slow shipping, fear not, for his leaf of newness has been turned over
And not only that, but this set is amazing. Gorgeous golden brown color, way better than I was expecting from the photo. And the dark stripes and tight curl and nice and stiff, just what I've always wanted
I'm going to pair it with this EIR back/side set, for a GA-type shape:

Curly mahogany neck, curly maple binding, African blackwood bridge/FB, maybe some 1/16" paua purfling if I'm feeling extravagant when I get to building it

Life is good.

SJ (super jumbo) back braced...

Installed a 3/4" timberwolf blade on the new rikon 14" band saw and successfully sliced up some black walnut for sides. The sides came out fantastic with consistent thickness of .120 to .130.



For those of you with experience, does cutting like this always make screeching type noise? After investigation the blade was not being pushed against the bearings, either side or rear. The saw is on the slower speed and the noise would stop as soon as the forward pressure on the wood was stopped. It seemed like it was the saw blade squeaking its way through the four inches of black walnut. Blade was tensioned correctly according to the scale inside the upper cabinet and I was moving the wood through very slowly. Is this normal? Should resaw be done on the higher speed?

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Keith Lally
http://krl-guitar-building.blogspot.com/

Lessee....

Got a dehumidifier and a seperate RH indictor from StewMac.

Broke a $100 tool height gauge.

Finishing a spiff gluing jig today.

Waiting on (2) Lennox Woodmaster CT blades....should come today....and I can finally get busy gluing and finishing a body.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Keith: Check the bearings on your guides to make sure they are OK.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I'm starting to get the hang of this guitar making thing...

I was given a gorgeous set of EIR which I couldn't wait to use. I thicknessed the sides with the Safe-T-Planer, cleaned up any rough its with the orbital and they were as soft as butter on the iron. I am pretty happy with the result. I will do some adjustments tomorrow and trim the overhang, but by far my best attempt at bending yet. I actually have 2 sides which are a close match!



I then joined, cut out & braced the back. Again, the best attempt of joining yet. I was really happy with the bracing job too. My new Japanese chisels really made the job easier, it is funny how better tools make the job easier. I used mahogany to brace the back. One question, which may seem a little odd... I have a Jimmy Moon guitar with mahogany bracing, which looks like it has been finished (i.e very chocolate brown looking). I was wondering if there is a way I can copy this look?

Anyway, pictures of the back:





One question, how can I get those streaks of HHG off between the braces? It is too smooth for a chisel and sandpaper doesn't seem to touch it.

No comparison to the rest of you guys, but I am really starting to get into this. I hope to get the sides glued, kerfing & box closed in the next few days.

Hot water on a rag, or paper towel, and wash it off. Not too wet, but it'll dissolve quickly with hot water. Don't force it against the braces, but just wipe with it.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

It's always the simple solutions I don't try. Thanks a lot Waddy.

OOooh, save me from that picture!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Top braced...red spruce/coco braces, maple UTB, and spruce bridge patch with ebony ball end plate.
Ain't yer typical dreadnaught bracing...

That is one wild looking top Haans!

Joe

Thanks Joe, some of us do walk a different path, don't we.

Looks like the spider from hell!

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Build log

Speaking of spiders from Hell...

...inspiration from boned fish perhaps???

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Dave
Milton, ON

I was thinkin' stonefly nymph myself...

Got more seeds of Diospyros discolor Willd. and plan to grow more saplings. Here are some germinated seeds.

Removed top.


Thicknessed new Lutz top, and joined.


Here is the join line.


Ready to cut out.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I got started on the neck for a Grand Concert. Mahogany and bubinga


brw overlay and template



And the bridge



And the Bubinga Butt...

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

It's locally called "hairy persimmon" or Taiwan ebony. The fruit has very little meat and too big seeds. I've read its heartwood is jet black. Now it's the right time for matured fruits to fall. I collected them in the campus of a University 5 km away. Does anyone know how long it takes to grow to the minimum diameter(at least 10", I suppose) for qs fingerboards?

well I removed and reinstalled the neck on my # 3 for the second time. first time it was askew. the second I didnt have the correct neck angle? sheesh what was i thinking ? I will never do that again ! yeah right ! at least now it doesn't take me weeks ( or months) to have the courage to remove the necks ! now on to some voicing . Jody

Haans: Wonder how wide that baby is going to be when finished??Will be waiting for you to let us know how it works out. Very interesting project. Good luck.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Catching up on some basement renovations. 3 years ago (count 'em, THREE years ago!) I gutted and started rebuilding the entire basement. I am closing in on finishing it off. Yeah!

And met and talked guitars with another OLF'er from a couple towns over.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/