colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Dec 16, 2014 16:01:41 GMT
As promised the next job was gluing on the bridge. I made a masking tape mask and stuck it round the position for the bridge, this is fractionally larger than the bridge and is used just to aid in the glue cleanup.  Next the baby bottle warmer is fired up, and the HHG bottle warmed up to 63deg, While this is happening I put the bridge to warm on the hotplate and warm the top with my pink hairdryer.  A UHMWPE caul is taped onto the bridgeplate inside the guitar and I then apply a liberal amount of glue to the underside of the bridge and position it using two UHMWPE pegs through the E holes. And using an adjustable caul I clamp it down into position.  After about ten minutes when the squeezeout has gelled I remove the tape and the majority of the squeezeout then finish up with cotton buds and warm water to remove the rest.  It's then left overnight for the glue to harden. Colin |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Dec 16, 2014 16:05:49 GMT
That bridge! The rosette's a stunner too!  |
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colins
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Post by colins on Dec 16, 2014 16:12:23 GMT
Well it's now past overnight, so I can remove the clamp, and we have a bridge glued to the top, which if you remember was the object of the exercise.  I then drill through the remaining four pin holes and ream the taper into all six to fit the 5deg pins. These pins are then numbered and will stay in their dedicated hole.  As I use unslotted pins I need to cut the slots in the bridge and top for the strings, I do this with handle mounted jig saw blades and a burr mounted in a dremel. I give the bridge a polish with 4000 grit.  Finally a piece of camel bone is fitted to the saddle slot.  Now I know question you're all asking, what about the coasters, well I can report that they are finished! Colin |
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Dec 16, 2014 16:21:23 GMT
+1 to what Martin said about the bridge ... there isn't a single part of this instrument that isn't visually stunning. Someone is going to be very, very happy. And I am going to be very, very jealous (but magnanimous in defeat, obviously, being a coward) |
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Dec 16, 2014 16:29:51 GMT
Love the symmetrical grain pattern on the bridge - not seen that on a bridge before  Phil |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Dec 16, 2014 17:03:40 GMT
.... a PINK hairdryer...?!!!!
Keith
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Dec 16, 2014 18:10:40 GMT
.... a PINK hairdryer...?!!!! Keith Some of us are confident enough in our manhood to carry it off. And now I only have a bit of my 'Battleship Blonde' hair left well it's a shame to waste a perfectly good hairdryer.  Colin |
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alig
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Post by alig on Dec 16, 2014 18:15:27 GMT
Quite right, Colin!
Stand firm in the face of these dinosaurs.
Go pink!
Pink is good - grey is bad!
You get the drift...
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colins
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Post by colins on Dec 16, 2014 18:20:33 GMT
Love the symmetrical grain pattern on the bridge - not seen that on a bridge before Phil Phil, that's my usual style of bridge, it's a case of careful wood selection and cutting. I like to use rift cut wood for my bridges which also helps. Colin |
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leoroberts
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My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Dec 16, 2014 18:29:39 GMT
alig is criticising your hair, colins ... so he's automatically out of the running too, right?
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alig
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Post by alig on Dec 16, 2014 18:36:18 GMT
alig is criticising your hair, colins ... so he's automatically out of the running too, right? Now wait just a cotton-picking minute. Leo is making the (un)happy assumption that I myself am not stricken by the occasional, not to say wayward, spot of grey. It's a good, if tenuous, attempt to blight my non-existent entry. So there. Leo, please accept a raspberry - blown with some gusto... |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Dec 22, 2014 17:44:31 GMT
Had a bit of a problem with my iffy hand which has delayed things, but today I managed to get the guitar finished!! So entries will be closing at midnight tomorrow (23rd) after which I will listen to all of the entries, a task I'm looking forward to doing. Just a few pictures today, I'll take the money shots tomorrow when the sun rises above the yardarm. First job today was to cut the slots in the nut, I set the spacing between the strings using one of Stew Macs string spacing rules, This sets the spacing so that the gap between the strings is even.  Next it's on with the strings and cut the slots until the gap at the first fret is around 0.1mm at the treble end to 0.15mm at the bass when the string is fretted at the 3rd fret. I use a set of gauged files to cut them. The strings are tensioned and the saddle height adjusted until the gap from the bottom of the string to the top of the 12th fret is 2mm for the treble E to 2.5mm at the bass E. Then I need to set the intonation. I like to set the intonation a few cents flat, when playing the tendency is to press harder on the string than I do when setting it. Of course there is no such thing as a perfectly intonated guitar, but we have to get it sort of just about on, final intonation is down to the player and their finger pressure. To find the correct break point at the saddle I use a cut of piece of B string and use it as a mobile saddle point, and mark the saddle at the correct point.   Oh, it sounds like a guitar. Colin |
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leoroberts
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Posts: 26,148
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Dec 22, 2014 18:31:38 GMT
Watching this thread is a bit like worrying a loose tooth with yer tongue, or picking at a scab ... you know it's going to hurt; but you just can't help yerself...
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Post by alexkirtley on Dec 22, 2014 20:10:16 GMT
The result will be either a jump for joy and put a dent in the ceiling moment or a cry moment...
Guitar looks great Colin
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Dec 22, 2014 23:06:49 GMT
This has been such a great thread to follow - and what a superb looking result!
Keith
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Jo whoever he is.
