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 Post subject: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2018 2:17 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:40 pm
Posts: 47
First name: Steve
Last Name: Schaefer
City: Atlanta
State: Ge
Zip/Postal Code: 30310
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Happy Holidays

I am building a StewMac Baritone Ukulele kit. I really don’t like my side seam on the back of the ukulele. I mocked up a back section (thank god) and tried to cut an end graft by hand. It didn’t turn out that well.

How do you all cut your end grafts? Do you use a router template? Can you buy these or do you make them yourself? Did you build a jig?

Any information would be appreciated

Thanks


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2018 3:12 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Hi Steve,
I usually do a simple wedge. Pics tell the story. The wood block is sitting on a folded piece of sandpaper, lined up on guide marks and held with one hand while drawing Japanese pull saw with the other. Clean it out with a chisel, epoxy a wedge and proceed with cutting binding channels.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image



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These users thanked the author Tim Mullin for the post: Pmaj7 (Tue Dec 25, 2018 6:25 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Tue Dec 25, 2018 3:13 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:44 pm
Posts: 471
Location: Australia
First name: Allen
Last Name: McFarlen
City: Mt. Sheridan
State: Qld.
Zip/Postal Code: 4868
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
I use a template to cut the end graft in the instrument. Both the template and endgraft are cut on my laser. Over the top for your first instrument but it's very quick and accurate.

Here's a video I did about a year ago. Not the greatest quality, but you get the idea.


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Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 10:54 am 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:40 pm
Posts: 47
First name: Steve
Last Name: Schaefer
City: Atlanta
State: Ge
Zip/Postal Code: 30310
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks for your advice

My second attempt on my mockup worked a lot better.

How do you brace the ukulele when chiseling out the graft? It took a fair amount of clamp pressure to keep the board still while I was doing this.

The second problem that I didn’t think out very well. The top and back are already glued on so if I add a graft now the end grains will show.


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 Post subject: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 11:39 am 
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Koa
Koa
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:14 am
Posts: 982
Location: Shefford, Québec
First name: Tim
Last Name: Mullin
City: Shefford
State: QC
Zip/Postal Code: J2M 1R5
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Steve-atl wrote:
How do you brace the ukulele when chiseling out the graft? It took a fair amount of clamp pressure to keep the board still while I was doing this.

My example was actually with a guitar, but I would handle a uke the same way. In my case, I put a cam clamp on either side of the body, with additional clamps holding those to my bench. In Allen’s video, he’s using a custom vice arrangement. Not much pressure is required for either system, provided your chisel is sharp. No need for a mallet!

Steve-atl wrote:
The second problem that I didn’t think out very well. The top and back are already glued on so if I add a graft now the end grains will show.

Well, you have indeed increased your level of difficulty. You could presumably scribe the outer edge with a sharp xacto knife, chisel out carefully, then fit your inlay into the cavity. Personally, I would find it easier and better looking to bind the top and bottom (like in my photos — you can skip the purfling). Might be worth learning this valuable skill on this kit project.



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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 12:49 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:40 pm
Posts: 47
First name: Steve
Last Name: Schaefer
City: Atlanta
State: Ge
Zip/Postal Code: 30310
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Your work is beautiful by the way

Steve-atl wrote:
The second problem that I didn’t think out very well. The top and back are already glued on so if I add a graft now the end grains will show.

Well, you have indeed increased your level of difficulty. You could presumably scribe the outer edge with a sharp xacto knife, chisel out carefully, then fit your inlay into the cavity. Personally, I would find it easier and better looking to bind the top and bottom (like in my photos — you can skip the purfling). Might be worth learning this valuable skill on this kit project.


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I was going to bind it but someone said the lining was thin (see photo) and it might make it tricky to rout and install. What do you think?

It's a Stewmac kit, I am using the materials they sent


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 2:04 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:50 pm
Posts: 2245
Location: Seattle WA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
You could do binding, but I wouldn't recommend purfling. Keep the binding at about .06"

New username, same Pat Mac

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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 2:35 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:23 pm
Posts: 259
First name: Brad
Last Name: Hall
City: Windsor
State: Ca.
Zip/Postal Code: 95492
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I just completed my first ukulele, also a Stewmac tenor kit. I didn't like the laminated back edge showing at the sides, so I bound both top and back. Figured why not personalize it a bit so I added a headplate and open gear tuners.
Attachment:
IMG_1467.jpg
Attachment:
IMG_1468.jpg



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Mystic Dawg Guitars


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 4:24 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:40 pm
Posts: 47
First name: Steve
Last Name: Schaefer
City: Atlanta
State: Ge
Zip/Postal Code: 30310
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Brad

That looks great. What binding did you use


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 10:00 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:23 pm
Posts: 259
First name: Brad
Last Name: Hall
City: Windsor
State: Ca.
Zip/Postal Code: 95492
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I'm guessing it was some flamed maple, although there is not much flame to speak of. I've got a boneyard tube with odds and ends and the four pieces were long enough to work on a ukulele.
One caution; I had no idea a veneer could be as thin as the mahogany laminated back and sides are. Maybe about as thick a quarter of a sheet of standard printer paper. Be very cautious sanding, scraping, or removing masking tape.

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Brad Hall
Mystic Dawg Guitars


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 Post subject: Re: Ukulele End Graft?
PostPosted: Thu Dec 27, 2018 7:12 am 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2018 5:40 pm
Posts: 47
First name: Steve
Last Name: Schaefer
City: Atlanta
State: Ge
Zip/Postal Code: 30310
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
BradHall wrote:
I've got a boneyard tube with odds and ends and the four pieces were long enough to work on a ukulele.

Where did you get it from?


One caution; I had no idea a veneer could be as thin as the mahogany laminated back and sides are. Maybe about as thick a quarter of a sheet of standard printer paper. Be very cautious sanding, scraping, or removing masking tape.



I have unfortunately found this out already

Thanks


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