September 3, 2009
I have completed the assemble of the box for the Koa/Redwood Parlor. I mounted the top last night and the back this morning.
After drying, I removed the mold (oh yes, and I removed the spreaders before mounting the back) and trimmed the scarf/overhang with a bearing flush router bit.
September 2, 2009
Worked on 906, notched sides for where braces meet kerf and glued top to the sides.
Damn autofocus thinks the bar for the platform is the most important object.
Tomorrow I can glue on the back after removing the spreaders, then I can use the spreaders for putting the sides for 905 in a mold.
August 27, 2009
Continued shaping the neck and channelling for trussrod and graphite reinforcement rods. Used epoxy to secure the rods and let dry for 24 hours.
Used the bandsaw to bring the neck down to thickness then used the spindle sander to smooth and create the heel swoop.
August 26, 2009
Worked simultaneously on necks for 905 and 906. Got both stacked, glued and somewhat trimmed.
Neck on top is 906, the parlor. It’s ready for chanelling for graphite and truss rod. Neck 905 is a little further along and also is ready for graphite and truss rod.
Both guitars have the rosewood bridge reinforcement installed and next step is to trim the bracing.
August 26, 2009
Multitasking. While clamped and glued bracing dries, I started on the neck. I’m using a 3″ x 1″ mahogany board and using the angled headstock cut and reverse to create a long grain headstock. I have a special jig I use to hold the neck blank and cut at the desired angle. For this guitar I’m using 12 degrees.
After slicing off the headstock piece, I plane the surfaces which came out of the cut to give a perfectly flat edge I can use to glue. Using the same jig as a clamp, I roll the headstock wedge over and glue it to the back of the neck blank. This will sit for 12 hours before releasing from the clamp. Next step is to build a stacked heel with the same neck blank material.
August 25, 2009
Cut out and shaped all the braces for both 905 and 906. Shaping is an approximation of the final shape of the braces, which will be planed and chiselled to their final shape after they are attached to the plates.
Finished gluing bracing for top and back for 906.
X-bracing goes in first.
Only time enough today to get the back bracing for 905 installed.
August 21, 2009
Installed new sandpaper on the drum sander and thicknessed the back down to .115″. Orbital sanded the back down a few more thousandths, redrew profile and installed the back reinforcement strip using the go bar clamp. Finished kerfing the sides and used the radius dishes to fine sand the top and back edges of the sides.
August 20, 2009
Got the sides bent and inserted into mold. First step is to install neck block.
Then end (butt) block.
After sufficient drying time, it looks like this.
The sides are just at the limit in size, so I did a little bit of radius sanding with the 30′ dish, and installed the top kerf with a large amount of proud at the waist.
Neglected to show the soundhole removal end result yesterday.
Tomorrow, I’ll radius sand the top again with the kerf in place to get it fully aligned, then tackle removing side material from the back side in preparation for the 15′ radius sanding of the back, followed by installing the back kerf.
I procured a new roll of sandpaper for the drum sander and should be able to bring the walnut sides down to thickness for the bender. I should be able to bend the walnut for 905 and get it into the mold. As well I can thickness the spruce top and walnut back and prep the bracing for both 905 and 906. If there’s time, I’ll join the top and back plates for 905.
August 19, 2009
As 901, 902 and 904 cure (due date, August 30) I have started building guitars 905 and 906. Today, concentrated on 906 after drum sanding the side plates. Carl chose to change the top from Engelman Spruce to Sinker Redwood. I already had the redwood plates joined and thicknessed down to around .130″. I routed the channels for the rosette, installed, scraped down, then cut out the sound hole.
The following picture shows the Dremel tool and circle jig I use to route the channels and cut out the soundhole.
Koa bends very nicely. I thickness sanded down to around .100″ then bent side one, let it stand in the bender overnight, then placed in the mold.
Side 2 is bent and sitting in the bender until tomorrow morning, when I’ll remove it, cut the ends and place in the mold next to its’ brother and glue in the neck and heel blocks.
I have two opportunities for headstock veneers in Koa. I’ll let Carl decide which he likes best.
Also, Carl was looking for fretboard inlay with a vine design. Sent him some examples:
August 16, 2009
Good friend Carl dropped by yesterday for a visit before running off to Larry’s 50th birthday party. We concluded that his parlor would gain some distinction with a sinker redwood top. As I already have such in stock, I can move on his guitar while the lacquered babies are curing.
