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Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10145&t=47987
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Author:  Bryan Bear [ Mon Jul 25, 2016 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

That white is a nice touch.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Jul 25, 2016 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I like the white too - I always like detail work. Be interested to see the fretboard completed.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Fri Aug 12, 2016 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

It's not quite completed, but I have finished inlaying the position markers.
Attachment:
IMG_0805.JPG

I've cut and thicknessed the linings and binding, but that's not worth a picture.
Neither is cutting and laminating the head and tail blocks, they'll show up soon enough.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Sat Aug 13, 2016 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

The white boarder was the right call!

Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Aug 13, 2016 11:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Fretboard looks good. I agree with Bryan, the white was a good call.

Author:  Alex Kleon [ Sat Aug 13, 2016 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Nice looking handwork, Roger!

Alex

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Wed Aug 17, 2016 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Thanks, I take way too much time doing handwork, but I like doing it, so my process stays pretty simple.
I got the blocks laminated and shaped. They are all oak and glued up with Titebond.
Attachment:
IMG_0807.JPG

I have thicknessed and joined the top and back, here's the top in the clamps.
Attachment:
IMG_0808.JPG

The back looks the same, no reason for another picture.

Author:  dzsmith [ Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Dang Rodger!
Looking great!
The Rosewood looks great, Mesquite would have been cool too.
Your neck lamination is really neat!
Dan

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Sun Aug 21, 2016 11:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

If I'd had a piece of mesquite big enough for a fretboard and bridge, I would have used it.
I got the frets radiused, beveled to length, and the ends of the tangs trimmed, ready to be pressed in.
Attachment:
IMG_0813.JPG

Here's a shot of the back after joining.
Attachment:
IMG_0821.JPG

The top, back, and sides have been thicknessed close to final, I need to finish building my bending form for this shape so I can bend the sides.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Wed Aug 24, 2016 10:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I thought I'd jump over and inlay the rosette. Here's cutting the channel.
Attachment:
IMG_0829.JPG

All the pieces just before assembly. The channel has been sealed with shellac.
Attachment:
IMG_0830.JPG

Here it is dry fitted.
Attachment:
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Ready to sand and scrape level. I'll probably use a chisel to remove most of the excess holly, I think it's easier to fit with the extra height, so I make them a little tall.
Attachment:
IMG_0835.JPG

Author:  JoeM [ Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I love that fretboard -- very cool!

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Sep 06, 2016 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I got my bending form done, and bent the sides and linings. Note to self: 1/8" is too thick for oak to bend easily. It can be bent, but it ain't easy.
In the future use three laminations 0.10" thick.
Attachment:
IMG_0836.JPG

I got the blocks glued to the sides, and I'll finish glueing on the linings tomorrow.
Attachment:
IMG_0843.JPG

I've finished the rosette, I'll have to shoot some pictures.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Sep 07, 2016 6:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Looks like the bending went well. Those sides are stout!

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Actually, the sides are between 0.05" and 0.06", it's the linings that are stout. You can see how thin the sides are where they're glued to the blocks. I had to go that thin to have a chance at bending these sides successfully. You'll see when they come out of the mold, these sides have a couple of small burls. The sides bent nicely, but the linings fought back much more than I expected.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Sep 07, 2016 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Oops, misunderstood your post and thought you said they were 1/8".

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Thu Sep 08, 2016 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Here's a shot of one of the burls, there's another one just like it on the other side.
Attachment:
IMG_0846.JPG

and there's a few of these...
Attachment:
IMG_0848.JPG

The rim is really rigid with the laminated solid linings. Once the linings are on, there's no reason to leave it in the mold, it has no flex at all.
Here's a shot of the completed rosette.
Attachment:
IMG_0851.JPG

I still have to cut out the top and back braces and side reinforcements (I'm using 3/4"x1/16" oak) and then box construction will have to wait for lower humidity.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Thu Sep 15, 2016 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Side reinforcements have been cut and glued. Top and back braces have been cut and shaped close to final.
As soon as the humidity drops below 50% in the shop, I can start thinking about glueing the braces and closing the box.
Attachment:
IMG_0865.JPG

Here's a better shot of the top bracing.
Attachment:
IMG_0866.JPG

Now it's back to the neck.

Author:  chucksurette [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 10:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Looks good Roger! The humidity is starting to drop up here in Canada. Hopefully it won't be long till it's suitable down your way.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Got the initial fitting of the neck done.
Attachment:
IMG_0875.JPG

Here's an overall shot of the front.
Attachment:
IMG_0873.JPG

And the back.
Attachment:
IMG_0870.JPG

I've got enough of the pieces together to get a pretty good idea of the final weight, I'll post that in a day or two.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I posted a photo of this guitar in a thread about finishes, and someone asked me about the paduc turning brown. Rather than highjack the finish thread, I'm posting new pictures here. The photo in the other thread is ten years old, I shot these last night.
Paduc under TruOil after 10 years. The guitar hung on the wall in my basement music room and seldom saw sunlight.
Attachment:
IMG_0876.JPG

Attachment:
IMG_0877.JPG

Attachment:
IMG_0878.JPG

Attachment:
IMG_0880.JPG

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Thu Oct 06, 2016 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I've got a contract to sell on the house where my shop is, so I'll be shutting down until I can get moved to the new place. The new shop is outside, but it's twice as big as the one I'm in now. Downside is no electricity, that will be the first order of business.

I've weighed all the components, and the final weight on this one should be around 3.8 lb.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Oct 18, 2016 11:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Good luck on the move!

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Oct 18, 2016 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I've made a little progress. I've installed the frets, cut the truss rod slot, and glued the fretboard to the neck. I did rough carve the heel before I glued on the fretboard. I install the frets by first brushing some HHG into the slot and then press the fret in using a large channel-lock plier and a maple caul roughly the radius of the fretboard. I press the middle about halfway down, then one end to about 75%, then the other end to about 95%. Go back to the middle and repeat the process completely seating the frets. The HHG isn't intended to hold the frets in, just fill the void between the bottom of the tang and the bottom of the fretslot. I used to try to cut the slots to exact depth, but any foreign material in the slot and the fret wouldn't seat completely, so I had to take out the fret and clean out the slot. Now I cut the a couple of hundredths deeper than the tang.
I'll get some photos up in a day or two.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Oct 18, 2016 1:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

Nice progress. Hope the move goes well.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Nov 22, 2016 1:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Rodger's 2016 Challange Entry

I'm dead in the water for a while, I've done everything I can until the humidity drops. The old place is sold, and all my tools are in the new shop, but there's still no electricity. With any luck, I'll get the power to the new shop by the time the humidity drops, which could be any time now.
The neck is complete and ready for final finish, I'll post some photos tonight.

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