Search found 50 matches

by sleake
Mon Apr 18, 2022 7:59 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop
Replies: 6
Views: 3756

Re: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop

Thanks Martin, I've just done a basic set-up and am just blown away by the smoothness of the saw, even with a little bearing play in the bottom wheel it runs very quietly and vibration free. Looking forwards to new bearings and a 30mm carbide resaw blade! I know this thread is a little left of field...
by sleake
Sun Apr 17, 2022 9:35 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop
Replies: 6
Views: 3756

Re: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop

Fitting the new motor was a fiddly but straightforward process, needed to extend some of the existing slots and drill 2 new mounting holes but nothing complex. Screenshot_20220417-093401_Gallery.jpg Screenshot_20220417-093416_Gallery.jpg Fired it up and it came to life! A few test cuts shows it has ...
by sleake
Sun Apr 17, 2022 9:30 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop
Replies: 6
Views: 3756

Re: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop

With the old motor removed, I turned to a single phase replacement. A quick google found a range 2.2 Kw singlephase motors in the 250 - 300 dollar range, so with a few phone calls to check availability I found a suitable frame mount motor, with taper lock pulley, belt and 15 amp lead for $340. The p...
by sleake
Thu Apr 14, 2022 6:57 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop
Replies: 6
Views: 3756

Re: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop

Removed the old 3 phase motor last night, I strongly suspect it is not original, it has an Australian motor stamp, and an Ozzie Stenco pulley, plus the wiring is........... agricultural. Screenshot_20220414-065455_Gallery.jpg Very simple process to unbolt, cut leads and pull off, leaving a nice clea...
by sleake
Wed Apr 13, 2022 8:59 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop
Replies: 6
Views: 3756

Re: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop

First job was moving it! Huge thanks to the last owner John who had an engine crane and plenty of time and patience to assist me haul it onto a pallet inside a trailer. I the strapped it down every possible way and drove it up from the sth coast of NSW. Long slow trip home and finish the day with a ...
by sleake
Wed Apr 13, 2022 8:41 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop
Replies: 6
Views: 3756

WIP Converting Meber SR 500 bandsaw for home workshop

Hi everyone, just thought I would share the trials and tribulations of my current bandsaw journey, as I have found very little information online about converting industrial bandsaws to single phase, yet hope it to be a straightforward process, as I recently bought a used, approximately 30 year old ...
by sleake
Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:18 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 8953

Re: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar

More good ideas from the books! I've always struggled with accurate marking out and drilling etc, so instead tried to make a drill guide from 25mm bar steel. Wow, so much easier than working with timber! Highly recommended strategy for bridge pin layout and drilling, even without the need for avoidi...
by sleake
Tue Mar 29, 2022 7:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 8953

Re: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar

Well thanks to the confidence you've inspired in my desire for old school aesthetics, I rummaged under my house and found my 'special' scrap milk crate among the 20 other crates of offcuts I've hoarded, from which I found a nice 30 x 35 chunk of quarter sawn rosewood. Screenshot_20220329-192211_Gall...
by sleake
Sun Mar 27, 2022 8:36 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 8953

Re: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar

Thanks for such detailed and considered replies. I must apologise for my brief post, I wrote it 3 times waxing lyrically about the joy of coming back to a project after a long hiatus, mainly due to more pressing joinery, building and landscaping work on my place. But it was deleted into cyberspace 3...
by sleake
Sat Mar 26, 2022 6:08 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 8953

Re: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar

After a wild 2 years, I finally got back into it this afternoon.

Binding and purfling channels routed with no epic disasters. All I could hope for!

Sorry the photos got a bit weird, I've put them in below as screenshots instead.

Ta, Steve
by sleake
Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Identifying wood
Replies: 23
Views: 20914

Re: Identifying wood

That looks like King Billy pine to me. Interesting that you said that you know the smell of 'King William pine'....... perhaps you have Huon and King william pine confused? Huon is a golden colour with a really distinctive and wonderful smell, while king billy is more pink and doesn't really have a ...
by sleake
Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:41 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Song of the Kauri
Replies: 3
Views: 4269

Re: Song of the Kauri

I'll add my praise for Molgat. He was incredibly transformative to the mountain sports in NZ before turning his hand to instruments. His film the leading edge is just an absolute classic with some really incredible skiing and climbing. If mountains are your thing, well worth a watch. This film led m...
by sleake
Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:27 am
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: home made c-clamps for gluing plates to rims
Replies: 11
Views: 37291

Re: home made c-clamps for gluing plates to rims

Nice work, just thought I'd add that if you ever want more pressure it is easy to stack two or more together.

They are common in timber surfboard construction, used to glue small bead and cove strips to build up the curved rails, I've got a bucket of all sorts of sizes, certainly a cheap method.
by sleake
Tue Jun 02, 2020 5:57 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Samick Baby Bass
Replies: 6
Views: 9110

Re: Samick Baby Bass

Assuming the truss rod is properly set, a quick and dirty way of lowering action is to shim the neck pocket to give a more appropriate neck angle (guessing its a bolt on neck.....) A peice of veneer, folded sandpaper, business card can all work, towards the body end of the neck pocket to kick back t...
by sleake
Fri May 29, 2020 6:05 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

Nice pin lines! Pity about the gloss coat, not that I have things dialed but have found the warmer the better for epoxy to flow nicely, sorry if that is old news..... Guess nithing to do but grit your teeth and enjoy a bit of quality time with the orbital😂 Love the logo inlay up at the nose too! Hop...
by sleake
Wed May 06, 2020 8:19 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

Just for something different here is my latest board getting a coat of fiberglass.

There is something about curves in timber that hools me
by sleake
Wed May 06, 2020 8:16 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

Thanks Dave, yes its amazing to take a few planks of wood and eventually get an instrument. Yes I hope this is the slowest one - though I have been on the tools the whole time, just with more bread and butter projects. I have a constant backlog of friends and family wanting furniture, doors, windows...
by sleake
Tue May 05, 2020 10:12 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

This is it so far. Fairly rough setup while things settle in, but will eventually give it some proper TLC.

Thanks again for looking.

Cheers steve
by sleake
Tue May 05, 2020 10:04 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

Hi Lillian Look no really good advice im afraid, as i must admit I'm not 100% happy with the finish at the moment. Tru oil is certainly a nice product but i dont think i have it dialled in yet. Though I must admit i think i have higher expectations than most, everyone who has seen it reckons it's fi...
by sleake
Sun May 03, 2020 8:22 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

So a slow sprint to the finish line. A week of tru oil has built a decent finish, still needs a little polish here and there but had a great run of humidity here in wollongong this weekend so fingerboard and bridge went on. Bit of mucking about at bunnings to mentally design a deep throat clamp from...
by sleake
Thu Apr 23, 2020 6:45 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

Bindings are now done, absolute black hole for time - probably 2 hours each edge. Used superglue which has left a bit of a glue line unfortunately but live and learn, guess I would consider them a B- overall. Still well off being clean enough to be proud. But for a first attempt they are ok. Sanded,...
by sleake
Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:34 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27562

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

Wow I'm the slowest builder out there!

3 years on and some more progress.

I promise i have achieved other things with my life! :D

Bindings are nearly all on, bridge and fingerboard done, hopefully get a coat or two of tru oil on in the next week or so and strings on by 2025 haha :lol:
by sleake
Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:21 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 8953

Re: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar

Might as well turn this into a build thread to keep me honest.

Back and sides - sorry I forgot I did follow G&G here with reversed kerfings and largish side splints.

And the top getting braced up. Just followed the 000 plans to a tee.