July 9, 2011
Just a heads up on a few new jigs/techniques. In order to keep dust and such out of the box during final sanding and prep, I blew up a balloon while dangled in the box, then tied it off.
I am now using a recently completed neck shaping jig. It’s just a vise mounted platform that allows me access to shave and shape the neck.
July 8, 2011
I just returned from 12 days in Alaska, touring in an RV with Carol and William. I did miss working in the shop, and have some serious catching up to do. I recently purchased plans to build a CNC machine platform. I’m not sure what I’ll use the CNC for, but I’ve got some ideas about neck shaping that might come to fruition.
Next Thursday I will be traveling to Lava Hot Springs for a cousin reunion. There was a germ of an idea that I would have my sister’s uke ready for delivery, but it looks iffy. I’ll still schlep a bunch of finished ukes and we can have a uke-fest anyway.
The summer will be busy with diversions from building, and I’ll have to squeeze in shop time between excursions. Lava Hot Springs next week, then Ste. Agathe, followed by Guitar Camp (www.psgw.com). I’ll have some time in August after camp before I attend training for my new job (High School Math Teacher!), then volunteering for the Boeing Classic golf tourney as a walking scorer. School starts September 7th.
June 20, 2011
Working on jigs and workboards today. I’ve decided to create a neck shaping jig, simply a platform to clamp the neck to so I can stick it in the vise and have clearance to shape the backside of the neck and heel.
I’ve continued to fine tune the Hybrid workboard. First step was to hollow out the surface to a 28′ radius to compensate for the bridge area bulge. I marked a few elevation lines as guides.
I used a router with a rounded bit set to 4mm depth for the center, then dropping 1mm for each of the next elevation lines until the final shelf was routed to a depth of 1mm.
I used the table saw to complete the slots from the edges in toward the center where the dowel clamps go.
Finally, a tripod stand was mounted to the back for resting on the workbench or clamping into the vise.
June 19, 2011
Sanded the fretboard smooth down to 220 grit. Pounded in frets and trimmed.
June 19, 2011
Bracing is installed and trimmed, awaiting final sanding. Bridge plate installed and X-brace patch installed.
June 16, 2011
All back bracing and top bracing/tonebars have been installed (glued and clamped).
The braces have been pre-shaped for minimal chiseling. After further shaping, and feathering the ends down toward the edges, I will install an x-brace patch over the joint, then sand.
The bridge plate will finally be installed prior to joining back, sides and top.
June 12, 2011
I have begun the process of finger planing/shaping the back braces. I’m also 75% complete on gluing/clamping all the top braces. I’m heavily preshaping the top braces as my past experience has been that this is a more efficient method than planing/shaping after the braces have been installed.
The owner of 1001 dropped by to request a tweak. His open A string had the dreaded wolf-tone which was really a small gap underneath the nut on the fretboard side. A simple filing of the nut slot to release the gap fixed the problem.
I’m also continuing to apply lacquer filler to the headstock for the 12 string Ovation repair. I’ve reattached the sheared headstock, repaired are relacquered the truss rod cover, and after the lacquer filler cures I’ll spray several coats of touch up lacquer then sand and buff. It should be ready later next week. I would like to get this back to the customer before we head out to Alaska for our RV adventure.
June 10, 2011
I completed the side supports for the workboard for Guitar 1002. The workboard is an alternative to the body mold which I have used for previous guitars. As I’m using a Spanish Heel, the neck will be attached to the top plate before the sides are installed. The workboard allows the top and neck to be secured.
Each dowel side support will be in a slot to allow adjusting the position to create the final and proper shape for the sides before gluing to the top. I will also need to dish out the lower bout area of the workboard to accommodate the radius bulge of the top from the X-bracing.
I have rough cut all the bracing. The top bracing will be spruce, and back bracing cedar. The back bracing is radiussed to 15′ before gluing.
May 30, 2011
I used the drum sander to bring the back plates down to .090″ then jointed and joined in the spanish joiner jig.
After drying, the joint was sanded, a protective posterboard cover was taped to the outside, and the center strip was glued using the go-bar clamp.
The top was similarly protected with posterboard (I’ve dinged too many top plates) and the bracing pattern was pencilled in.
May 30, 2011
I am having problems with Linksalpha. This is a test to see if it posts to facebook.
