January 22, 2012
I built this workboard several months ago. It’s adapted from the workboard I used for the ukes and examples I’ve seen at luthier suppliers. The next step is to shape and dimension the butt block then glue it in place in preparation for the attachment of the sides.
January 22, 2012
The neck was notched on the router table to accept the top. The center lines were aligned, pilot holes drilled, and the neck has been glued to the top. After drying, the neck and top will be mounted to the workboard in preparation for attaching the butt block and joining the sides to the top.
January 18, 2012
It’s a snow day, a day before my son’s 19th birthday, and the birth of my second uke. The finish is KTM9, a water based lacquer which I believe I will continue to use for future instrument finishes. I took several months to apply, knockdown and buff the finish, and I believe it improved the results. Also, 24 or more very thin coats proved to be the right approach. I avoided drips and orange peel effect, and the knockdown was more straightforward.
There’s nothing like a fire, dog and uke to complete a snow day at home.
January 15, 2012
Tomorrow this uke will be making music. The finish is all knocked down and polished, and today I mounted the bridge. After setting overnight it will be a quick transition to get the strings installed.
December 22, 2011
Back to work in the shop. I’ve done the fretboard inlay for the hybrid, and started tackling portions of guitar 1202, the Rosewood OM also known as Bob. First, I joined the back.
I tried using tempera paint to outline the thorn and vine inlay for the fretboard.
It certainly made for a clear distinction when diving in with the router to clear out the channel for the shell. I was a bit sloppy wity the application and got too much on the shell and had to spend extra time to remove the paint from the shell before installing.
Finally, using black epoxy, the shell was glued in. Note the excess splurted over the top. This ensures all gaps get filled, and a nice clean seam between the shell and the fretboard.
November 25, 2011
The uke has been delivered. Here are the final images.
November 20, 2011
It was May when I added the label, which is why it’s dated May 2011. Boy am I slow. The strings are on. It sounds lovely. Monday and Tuesday I will: Fill a few minor gaps with lacquer, remove the strings and tuning machines, lower the height of the nut and the saddle, clean up the fretboard, knockdown the sides and neck, wet sand the entire uke, buff it to a glorious sheen, glue in the nut, reinstall the tuning machines and strings, then play it until my fingers fall off.
November 19, 2011
After joining the myrtle back for Rachel’s parlor:
Yum.
Four more days before we load the dog in the car and trek to SLC for family Thanksgiving. I’ve finished applying the lacquer and have started knockdown.
The lacquer is still a wee rubbery, but hell, I can’t let that stop me. 440, then 800 grit on a sanding block, and I have the top and the headstock knocked down. I finished with 1200 grit wet sanding, then buffed (top only) in preparation to mount the bridge. I figure I can mount the bridge, and while it is clamped up, I can proceed to knockdown the rest, clean up the fretboard, and start to shape the nut and saddle.
I’m absolutely sure this will be a playable uke by Tuesday, and it will ride with us to SLC.
November 6, 2011
Devin dropped by today and we polished up his frets, nut, saddle, and installed a pickguard. Looks like it’s really done.
I’ve been applying lacquer to the Bubinga Uke and the Koa Uke. The Bubinga is fully lacquered and is sitting in cure mode for a couple of more weeks.
The Koa uke has 16 coats, and I think 24 will be the cat’s pajamas. I should be able to get the 24 applied by Tuesday evening.
Between lacquer applications (wait one hour please) I’ve been bracing the Myrtle Parlor (for Rachel) and I joined the back plates.
I’m liking this myrtle, and it seems like it will be nice to work on. It planed easily while preparing the plate joint.
November 30, 2011
Let’s start with the Lava Light.
After William left for UW, several items which I coveted were left behind. Lava Light (or Lamp)!
I mapped out a schedule for the completion of Uke 1101, and it is possible to complete before I go to Salt Lake for Thanksgiving. It will be a bit tricky to continue working on the uke while the lacquer is curing. Today, I finished the 8th coat of lacquer, with an intention of putting on 20 coats. Tomorrow I’ll add 4 more coats. Coincidentally, I am adding coats to the Bubinga uke, and after tomorrow’s application, it will have 24 coats.
This is the back of the Bubinga.
Between coats I attached the fret markers to the Hybrid’s fretboard and the Thorn and Vine to 1202 (Bob). The shell is glued to the surface with white glue. I will score a border around the glued shell, then pop off the shell in preparation for routing a channel.
