Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 1, 2015 23:08:15 GMT
This is it...my first and only build thread, ever. As some may have seen, I was treated to a ukulele building course for my birthday this year, and today was my first day at the workshop. Not being practically-minded, and virtually handless when it comes to actually making things, or any DIY-type activities, it was safe to say I was nervous at the prospect of making a delicate, responsive musical instrument with zero prior experience and negative expertise. With reckless bravado, I ventured in to the Glasgow Guitar Workshop this morning with the intent of giving it a damn good go, and to the credit of our fantastic tutors, Ricky and Ian, it actually went quite well! Luckily for me, there were just two students (me and another bloke, Fergus) taking part in the August course, which meant more space and attention, and therefore really good progress. Enough of the waffle, and onto the build! First of all, after a brief introduction, we were presented with our basic starting materials:  The sides were already bent and attached the the neck/end blocks. We could have done this too, such was the quality of our tuition, but time factors meant this was a necessary shortcut. I really didn't mind, as I'm quite positive I would have ruined a few trees worth of mahogany trying to bend those little sides. I got to work on gluing in the kerfling...  Playing with the clothes pegs was fun, especially the nice pink ones  Once the sides were all 'kerfled up', I drew some pretty shapes on the mahogany.  After that, it was simply a case of cutting the shapes out on the frighteningly sharp and deeply worrying band saw   |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 1, 2015 23:14:56 GMT
Next came the bracing - a concept I had heard of, but was not overly familiar with.  A bloke from B&Q came in to help fit the go-bars and check the braces were square...  A forest of tension making my glue joints perfect   Now to look at the Englemann spruce. Looks like we need a soundhole   |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 1, 2015 23:18:43 GMT
Have Dremel, will route! Setting up the jig to begin ctting the soundhole and the channel for the rosette.  All done, but what's all this stuff for?  -INTERLUDE- Here's one of Ricky's parlour guitars with a very handsome sunburst top. Apparently, our ukes will be similar   |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 1, 2015 23:22:40 GMT
I really thought I was finished with this rim, but no! Now I need to rub it up and down some sandpaper until my arms fall off the kerfling is nice and level!  The rosette is taking shape - after much wailing and gnashing of teeth - that purfling is tricky to keep in place.  Got to get the purling flush, dammit! Here's me flying a plane...   |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 1, 2015 23:25:32 GMT
That's better - nice and flush now  Another adventure with the band saw - this time, cutting out the spruce top.  I'm concentrating really hard, honest!  |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 1, 2015 23:31:46 GMT
All cut and starting to brace the top.  The braces are measured, cut and glued down.  Next, I start to shape the braces on the bottom with a chisel. Some of these spruce braces are really hard work, or maybe I'm just an oaf   Cleaned up and sanded down, it begins to look a bit better.  Finally, the top braces are fixed and glued in place in the go-bar deck, ready to be butchered carefully carved next week.  And that's it. 8 Hours pretty solid graft, with not a huge amount to show for it, but great progress nonetheless. I still have three more days to go in the course, so I'll update as I go. Next week (day 2), we'll finish cleaning up the back, carve the top braces and clean it up, and then put the box together. Who knows what will happen then!!  |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 2, 2015 0:03:02 GMT
Wow! That must have been a great day Martin! I reckon you got a lot done actually. And the beard really adds to the serious loofyer look. I'm looking forward to next Saturday's instalment.  Keith |
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Aug 2, 2015 7:02:18 GMT
Cool dude  |
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Post by marcus on Aug 2, 2015 7:41:43 GMT
Ooohhh, ahhhhhh.... nice red apron too!
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Post by lavaman on Aug 2, 2015 9:05:48 GMT
Great photos. You were certainly kept busy for the day.  |
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Post by earwighoney on Aug 2, 2015 10:05:51 GMT
Great pics Herr Martin.
Fantastic red apron as well.
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colins
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Post by colins on Aug 3, 2015 8:59:44 GMT
Martin you can come down and do my next classical rosette for me now you have the skills, juts 30 pieces of purfling to control. I know you'll enjoy the process, but the best bit is playing something you've built. Oh and you do have the luthier beard, so you must be a natural.
Colin
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 3, 2015 10:12:12 GMT
Thanks all very much for reading and commenting - I found the process interesting and enjoyable, but also a bit stressful and tiring.
I am constanting worried about making a mess of something, and thus rendering my finished uke a not-so-pretty piece of firewood. On the other hand, I love learning how much work and attention to detail has to go in to creating something like this.
The sanding isn't my favourite part, but it can be quite satisfying.
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 3, 2015 11:12:51 GMT
Excellent new avatar pic Martin! Cunning ruse to include a beautiful unbearded female person in the pic to emphasise your beardy manliness! Keith |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Aug 3, 2015 12:17:26 GMT
Excellent new avatar pic Martin! Cunning ruse to include a beautiful unbearded female person in the pic to emphasise your beardy manliness! Keith As if it needed emphasising |
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Jo whoever he is.
