colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397 
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Post by colins on Jun 29, 2014 10:56:45 GMT
Just a small, but landmark, step taken, I have united the sides and the neck, as I said, I use the double wedge system.  My solera has access holes so that I can insert the wedges from the other side as well. As the top rim is flat at this stage, I use the back of the solera as it's flat. Of course I have to raise the rims by the thickness of the top, as the top obviously fits level with the neck surface. When the glue holding the wedges is dry, I can remove the rims.   The thing I like about the double wedge is the fit that is achieved between the neck and sides, something I'm pretty anal about in all of my guitars.  Starting to look like a proto-guitar. On to the plates, got to love bracing! Colin |
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davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Aemulor et ambitiosior
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Post by davewhite on Jun 29, 2014 11:52:12 GMT
Colin, Looks very artistic. Looking forward to the bracing part  |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 1, 2014 18:31:27 GMT
Got a bit of work done on the plates.
I join my plates with HHG using the 'tent' method. So first job is to joint the edges of the plates, they have already been jointed to near perfect, but I like to do the final joint just before gluing so that I have fresh surfaces to join. So the plates are stacked on to the shooting board (in my case two sheets of MDF) and my old Stanley #5 is gently stroked along the edges, as soon as I get a thin even curl all the way along, then the joint should be good, checked by candling against a window.
HHG is then run along the joint and the plate pressed flat and taped across the joint
Repeat for the top plate.
Colin |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 1, 2014 18:44:42 GMT
Next job is to inlay the back strip. I rarely use one on steel strings but do so on most of my classicals except cypress bodied ones where I like the clean look of a plain back. My backstrips are usually very simple in keeping with First Epoch guitars, and as in this case consist of a narrow strip of the same wood as the binding, with a thin coloured border picked up from the purfling. In this case a thin strip of Macassar Ebony with a red purfling line each side. I always inlay rather than sandwich the centre strip as I feel with the extra glue lines it makes for a stronger joint.
So, I set up the back with a straight edge for the laminate trimmer to register off and cut a groove down the centre of the back about 1.3mm deep.
The backstrip is glued in with HHG.
When dry the back strip is planed, then sanded level and the back thicknessed. I leave maple backs a bit thicker than rosewood on classicals, about the same as cypress, 2.7-2.9mm
Colin
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leoroberts
C.O.G. 
Posts: 26,146
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 1, 2014 18:54:38 GMT
I can't wait to see that back polished up, colins ... it's going to be chuffing gorgeous, isn't it? |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 1, 2014 18:54:43 GMT
Last job for today is to cut out the back and add the rear cross strip. So change blades on the bandsaw, to 1/4" 10-14, and cut out the back to the outer line, about 4mm outside the plantilla.  The waste piece won't however be wasted as I can make an air guitar from the hole.  Next job, inlay the rosette. Colin |
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jul 2, 2014 13:17:48 GMT
Colin, Elrgant simplicity to go with the birdseye maple - love it  |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 2, 2014 13:34:46 GMT
Thanks Dave, the top of this is fairly busy with the First Epoch style rosette and multi-line purfling, so I'm trying to keep the back and sides simple to just let the maple do its stuff. Just macassar binding and a fine red purfling. When I've got enough of the guitar holes to hand, I'll put together the air guitar and post it on eBay.  Colin |
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jul 2, 2014 15:18:38 GMT
When I've got enough of the guitar holes to hand, I'll put together the air guitar and post it on eBay. I think that birdseye maple is the perfect back and side wood for an air guitar |
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 26,146
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jul 2, 2014 15:20:44 GMT
When I've got enough of the guitar holes to hand, I'll put together the air guitar and post it on eBay. I think that birdseye maple is the perfect back and side wood for an air guitar I hope it has a cutaway... there's nothing worse in an air guitar than not being able to reach to dusty end.. |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 2, 2014 15:32:20 GMT
Two jobs done today, first the cross grain strip was added and was profiled with my little thumb plane.
Then the strip was notched to accept the back braces, first marked with the marking knife then chiseled using my crank handled chisel.
The back braces were then glued onto the plate. Prior to gluing the braces were profiled to a 15' radius, they were then glued in the 15' dish.
Colin
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 2, 2014 15:42:16 GMT
Second job was installing the rosette into the top. Prior to routing the channel for the rosette the top is wiped with shellac to prevent tearout.  The rosette that I made previously was glued in using white wood glue.  This leaves a section of the channel unfilled, so I cut a section of spruce and glue it in place using magnets to hold it in place.  The top is then run through the sander to level the rosette with the top, I then sand the top from the back to near finished thickness.  Then on to the bandsaw and cut out the top slightly over size.  Metaphorically pat myself on the back, tidy up and head in for a celebratory cup of tea and a Bourbon. Colin |
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Jul 2, 2014 16:12:14 GMT
Metaphorically pat myself on the back, tidy up and head in for a celebratory cup of tea and a Bourbon. I thought you preferred Talisker A great day's work |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 2, 2014 16:16:44 GMT
Metaphorically pat myself on the back, tidy up and head in for a celebratory cup of tea and a Bourbon. I thought you preferred Talisker A great day's work That'll come later Dave, don't worry! Colin |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,397
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Post by colins on Jul 4, 2014 22:13:49 GMT
I've found an outlet for the air guitar when I have enough holes to build it.  Colin |
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Jo whoever he is.
