R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135 
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jun 6, 2016 10:06:43 GMT
I'll study this later but thanks for bothering. I think you're right that we might be boring the underwear off folks so we should keep this on PMs - unless we hear a great clamour to the contrary...
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 6, 2016 13:04:36 GMT
..chunter away as much as you like - we have something of a history of interesting sidetracks in threads.
Keith
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leoroberts
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Posts: 26,145
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Jun 6, 2016 15:10:33 GMT
so we should keep this on PMs - unless we hear a great clamour to the contrary... No, no and thrice no ... carry on. It's like watching the beginning of a Grand Prix - I'm desperate to know of this guitar is going to make it through the first corner  |
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jun 6, 2016 16:24:53 GMT
It's like watching the beginning of a Grand Prix - I'm desperate to know of this guitar is going to make it through the first corner First corner? You'll be lucky: it's already had 2 new gearboxes and has to start from the pit lane; and don't minimise the potential dangers of the formation lap. |
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francis
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Posts: 2,483
My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Jun 6, 2016 19:04:53 GMT
Don't think you get a formation lap starting from the pit lane - it's straight IN!!!
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jun 6, 2016 21:49:05 GMT
I've been mending chairs but I did have time to drop the guitar and half catch it so that it's not too badly scarred. Had to patch a bit of veneer on the head and the body will need another quick cut and polish - but it probably would have anyway. I also decided I didn't quite like the look of the bone fret-markers, one of which was missing anyway. The problem for me is that, because of the way I have inlaid them, they get very thin and translucent towards the ends and it's not a very clean look. I wrenched the remaining teeth out. Go dark, I thought. I asked my wife whether I should go for black or dark brown. "Dark brown," she said without a moment's hesitation. So I have gone for Jarrah, which is Austrailian and reddish brown and, importantly, quite hard. If the laburnum goes darker with time, they won't be much use but they can always be changed. Here it is:  and here's a detail:  I haven't tried the iron yet but I notice that the first of twenty safety instructions is: "Use iron only for its intended use." I've already failed, then. But it's reassuring that they spelled "its" correctly. ps 17. Never iron clothes being worn. |
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Post by mel on Jun 6, 2016 22:08:32 GMT
I'll study this later but thanks for bothering. I think you're right that we might be boring the underwear of folks so we should keep this on PMs - unless we hear a great clamour to the contrary... I'm quite enjoying the numbers! Mel. |
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alig
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Post by alig on Jun 7, 2016 8:25:26 GMT
Looking forward to the iron review; unless of course you have more pressing demands on your time.... Keith Proud of you, Keith... |
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jun 7, 2016 21:10:29 GMT
A lot more chair work today but managed to fit in a mistake-ridden laminating of back-halves. The iron works; at least, it gets hot and produces steam and so on though I haven't tried it on clothes. I tried it on a layer of 1.5mm constructional maple veneer and a layer of 1.5mm sapele. I slapped on hot-hide glue to make a nice glue sandwich and then ironed part of it and firmly applied my veneering hammer - not actually a hammer, of course. Now, when you do this with 0.6mm veneer, the veneer is nice and wet and floppy and stays stuck while you drive the still-fluid glue towards and out of the edges. I discovered that this does not work with thicker veneers. It gaped and refused to stay stuck and was generally a right mess. Plenty of running hot water and a j-cloth soon had the two sheets cleaned up and the sun dried them quickly. I know people like pictures and we haven't had any yet so here is the Cascamite I mixed up for my second attempt:  Some of you may recognise the receptacle as the Co-op's "Pot of Joy" chocolate mousse pot. That's recycling for you. This time I slapped on the Cascamite (on both surfaces just to make sure), spread it out and hey presto on to the go-bar thingy and leave it to go off:  It went off. I could understand it if some of you thought, "He does this sort of thing deliberately," but I promise I was actually surprised when, upon removing it from the nicely curved former - remember the back of this guitar is not flat - I discovered I have curved it with the maple on the outside. That had not been my intention. I did it right the second time but now I have one with a slight curve one way and one with a slight curve the other way.  I could just curve it back the way it doesn't want to go when I put the braces on or I could make up another one. I think it'll have to be the latter... God preserve us from idiots! |
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francis
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Posts: 2,483
My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Jun 7, 2016 22:43:07 GMT
If you got it right every time it'd get really boring and we would only have a couple of pages of post-n-piccies. Keep up the good work  |
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jun 9, 2016 17:11:40 GMT
A day's a long time in luthiery and I've changed my mind a little and have ditched the two half-back sheets I prepared in the last episode. Which reminds me that The Archers reached episode 18,000 the other day and, while I'm not a devotee, I do like the idea that it's only about 10 days younger than me and still going strong. In fact, I must admit I would like to know what happens in the Rob/Helen case even though I don't want to actually have to listen to it to find out. Anyway, back to the back. I decided that, since I'm using laminated veneers, I might as well use that fact to make it easier to put together by not having a join up the middle. I decided to (temporarily) join the two halves of one thickness of veneer (1.5mm thick) and then glue a strip of veneer down the middle to hold them firmly together. Then I would be able to butt two more strips up against the centre strip (on the inside of the guitar of course) in a rather relaxed fashion. The key to all this was gluing the initial two halves edge to edge accurately and I didn't really have the means to do it. So I did my research and found that los españoles de antaño had a set-up which simultaneously held the sheets flat and pulled them together. I knocked one up. Here it is in action:  Of course, it works better if a) you are using somewhat thicker sheets of timber and b) you are not stupid enough to cut the sheet into half-guitar shapes before you start gluing. I amaze myself sometimes. Nonetheless, I think it speaks volumes for the wisdom of those old Spaniards - are you allowed to say "Spaniards"? It's not like "Chinamen" or "Bombay" is it? - that it did the trick AND I used fish glue so came out of it smelling of roses. Talking of which, have you seen what's happening outside the workshop?  Anyway, I stuck them edge to edge and then slapped on plentiful fishglue to stick a further strip of sapele down the middle on what will be the inside. It's on the go-bar deck as I speak and I'll be leaving it there overnight. I'll leave you with a couple more pictures for now:   |
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Post by earwighoney on Jun 9, 2016 17:22:05 GMT
A day's a long time in luthiery and I've changed my mind a little and have ditched the two half-back sheets I prepared in the last episode. Which reminds me that The Archers reached episode 18,000 the other day and, while I'm not a devotee, I do like the idea that it's only about 10 days younger than me and still going strong. In fact, I must admit I would like to know what happens in the Rob/Helen case even though I don't want to actually have to listen to it to find out. Poor Helen  Good pictures though. |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Jun 9, 2016 17:53:40 GMT
I'm not a devotee of the Archers either Rob. I used to be 35 years or so, but it got me into all sorts of trouble, including a solo parachute jump (don't ask). I'm also not keen on the idea that I'm a couple of years older than The Archers and I am not wearing as well as it seems to be - it seems to be so much more adaptable to the modern world than I.
Anyway, I do really enjoy following your thread, and the poppies were a lovely bonus just now - thanks!
Keith
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francis
C.O.G.
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My main instrument is: Whatever I'm building...
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Post by francis on Jun 9, 2016 19:42:41 GMT
Poppies? now what can you make from poppies...  Great build Sir |
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R the F
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 1,135
My main instrument is: bandsaw
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Post by R the F on Jun 9, 2016 19:50:50 GMT
Poppies? now what can you make from poppies... Buttonholes? |
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Jo whoever he is.
