I'm Back!

 

Hey guys and gals after a long sabbatical from the blog I have returned. Hard to believe the blog has over 8,000 hits from all over the globe. I hope that you picked up some useful information or found what you were searching for.

 

Lets start off with a picture gluing up a back for a walnut and Sitka small bodied guitar that is just getting underway. You can see my process is pretty simple just using old bar clamps with some wedges. Don't forget the wax paper when gluing!

 

 

Then a picture from the Martin Guitar Museum in Nazareth PA where I recently visited (more pictures from here later). Real cool, looks kind of like my shop, or any woodworkers shop for that matter.

 

 

 

Finally a little Cordoba Cadete 3/4 size classical guitar that was brought in with a few dings and the bridge had come off along with needing a new saddle.

 

Hey thanks for sticking around, I hope to be back soon with more updates on some new guitars that I am working on..


Robert
2015

Epiphone EA-250

Just acquired this 1970's made in Japan Epiphone EA-250. Had to pay about $100, but it seemed relatively inexpensive and in OK condition. Have not had a chance to really scope it out yet. Needs some minor binding repair around the neck joint and a pickup. These pickups are called MMK-1 and are hard to find. I might just hot rod it with some new ones if I cannot find a replacement at a reasonable cost, but would like to keep it original. Value in good condition is probably only around $300, but from what I understand pretty popular in Europe?

I will post some more pictures and info after I get a chance to start working on it.

Jointer

Just purchased a used 6" Grizzly g1182 jointer on Craigslist from a very nice guy out in Virginia today. Had to drive about a hundred miles round trip to get it, but well worth the trip. He had recently purchased a larger unit and was selling this one. This will certainly do the trick for me. I hope to save some time (and joint pain) with this tool. My old sweetheart planes are looking at me with disgust though..I still love them and will keep them sharp and on standby. I also ordered a height attachment extension for my 14" Delta bandsaw so that I can do some resawing of wood for backs and tops without having to purchase a bigger saw.

In the meantime I hope to get started on some new projects, and finish up some old things that have been patiently waiting for me. I received a comment from someone asking what happenned to the Bohmann mandolin and sad to say it is one of those still waiting. I promise to get to it along with French polishing the Bubinga dreadnaught and finding a screw for a friction tuner on the Martin uke that does not fit. I am waiting on a 70's Epiphone Riviera that needs some work and will post that as soon as it arrives. I do still have a day job that keeps me busy along with a bunch of other hobbies including brewing beer, gardening, bonsai, and a new one aquaponics (I only have the fish so far). Not to include I will be doing some remodeling of the homestead this spring including new hardwood floors, a kitchen redo and a new deck. I would love to build a greenhouse too if possible..

Thanks for hanging in there, more to come..

Peace
Robert

Karen's Kitchen Stories: On Baking Bread | And the Bakers who Inspire Us

Karen's Kitchen Stories: On Baking Bread | And the Bakers who Inspire Us

Bubinga Dreadnaught Guitar Build Update

This build is going along and almost ready for finish. Pictures show body completed and routed for bindings

These pictures are cutting out the end strip. Some people use only hand tools, but I need the assistance of some power tools or I would never get done.

Bubinga sides with leopardwood strip and bindings.

Taped up bindings after gluing. I use the tape since I have it and it is convenient. Below working on some problem areas that don't want to stay glued

I use a drill to plow out most of the material, and then follow up with a router and some sharp chisels for cleaning out the neck mortise.

 This neck is mahogany with an ebony fingerboard that has been waiting patiently for a body. I will probably change the white cap to leopardwood.

Almost ready for finish. I will be doing a French polish that I will keep updated.

Robert
2012

Top Braced and Glued to Sides

Finally got some time to work on the bubinga dreadnought this past week. I was able to glue the braces onto the top, carve them, and then glue the top to the sides.

Still working on technique. There are a lot of skills that can only be developed with practice. Brace size, placement, shaping, and fitting are definitely one of them. I drilled a bunch of holes in the mold so I could slip the spool clamps through them while gluing. This was much easier to line things up than the last time trying to glue the top and back on without them. Now I just need some more clamps..

The last build I used pre-made braces but this one has all handmade bracing and end blocks. The lower bout bracing probably should have been at more of an angle than 90 degrees to the cross bracing, but like I said with time and experience those things will work themselves out.

When I get back next week the back can be glued on and I can start working on bindings and purflings.

Spruce Top

Short post today, just to keep things moving

I am working on the spruce top for the bubinga dreadnaught. Still trying to get the hang of routing the rosettes without tearing up the wood. I have used a full size router for many projects in the past, but this small dremel inlay routing takes a little more patience. Here I am using the Stew-Mac circle cutting set up. Main thing is to make certain everything is set properly and tightened. This Sitka spruce top is going to have a triple ring similar to the martin D-28 style

Below gluing the main cross braces to the top after installing the rosette and cutting the soundhole out. The spruce braces are approximately 1/4" x 1" at this point. They will be worked down and scalloped for this guitar. The tape is holding a piece of cardboard on the face to protect it while it is being worked on.