Search found 111 matches

by Andos
Fri Feb 09, 2024 7:29 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin bracing. Help needed
Replies: 12
Views: 1439

Re: Mandolin bracing. Help needed

I like it Mark, it appeals to the maintenance fitter in me. A simple effective fix that gets things up and running again.
But I'm going yo wait for Petes post on cf bracing and go from there.
by Andos
Tue Feb 06, 2024 3:22 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin bracing. Help needed
Replies: 12
Views: 1439

Re: Mandolin bracing. Help needed

Sorry didn't mean to put thar up twice..
by Andos
Tue Feb 06, 2024 3:19 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin bracing. Help needed
Replies: 12
Views: 1439

Re: Mandolin bracing. Help needed

Thanks Peter, I've had a lifetime of doing quick and nasty fixes, that rules out the cf patch. The bracing pattern is no good, out goes the x brace. And I'm not here to do things easy. Which only leaves the retop job. I have plenty of matai to make another top, so that wont be a problem. I'll get st...
by Andos
Tue Feb 06, 2024 2:17 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin bracing. Help needed
Replies: 12
Views: 1439

Re: Mandolin bracing. Help needed

Thanks Peter, I've had a lifetime of doing quick and nasty fixes, that rules out the cf patch. The bracing pattern is no good, out goes the x brace. And I'm not here to do things easy. Which only leaves the retop job. I have plenty of matai to make another top, so that wont be a problem. I'll get st...
by Andos
Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:26 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin bracing. Help needed
Replies: 12
Views: 1439

Mandolin bracing. Help needed

I made this mandolin quite some while back. It was one the first 1/2 way decent instrument I built. But the soundboard collapsed a few months after stringing up so I loosened the strings of and buried it the garage while I decided what to do with it. It’s X braced with spruce (from an old piano soun...
by Andos
Fri Jan 19, 2024 7:02 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: When not working on guitars...
Replies: 19
Views: 114204

Re: When not working on guitars...

Play another tune, you handle it well.
by Andos
Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:34 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: When not working on guitars...
Replies: 19
Views: 114204

Re: When not working on guitars...

Time you guys built a bridge and got over it.
by Andos
Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:48 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: When not working on guitars...
Replies: 19
Views: 114204

Re: When not working on guitars...

Sweet as Taff, don’t fret over it. :D
by Andos
Tue Jan 09, 2024 8:32 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: When not working on guitars...
Replies: 19
Views: 114204

Re: When not working on guitars...

Hi Taff, Sorry for the late reply. I found an online site has a set of building instructions and a full set of plans. I’ve bought a set of plans and instructions off him. Sligo harps if anyone is interested. The lyre though, those plans I’d love to get off you. I’m in NZ so postage won’t be cheap. I...
by Andos
Wed Jan 03, 2024 4:58 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: When not working on guitars...
Replies: 19
Views: 114204

Re: When not working on guitars...

Hi Taff,
How much for the harp plans? They’ll be well out of temptations way over here. And I even have a wee lass asking me to make one for her.
Cheers
Andy
by Andos
Thu Dec 28, 2023 3:17 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Shop listening recommendations
Replies: 13
Views: 44906

Re: Shop listening recommendations

I just enjoy the quiet and curse my earmuffs when I have to use a power tool.
But then I work in an engineering shop. We have machine tools and a radio blearing over the top all day.
by Andos
Fri Aug 04, 2023 7:17 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: bracing
Replies: 30
Views: 41300

Re: bracing

Mangeao for the top and bracing.
Tawa or tairere for the neck

If you find a source of mangeao please let me know.
by Andos
Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:32 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: A question about last lattice guitars built in Australia
Replies: 8
Views: 7153

Re: A question about last lattice guitars built in Australia

Go for it bro. It’ll either make you or break you. When I started guitar making (3 so far + a balalaika, 2 mandolins and a hurdygurdy) I couldn’t plane a piece of wood down without getting a 3mm taper in it. Down to about 0.1mm now. The first guitar was more like a patchwork quilt. Don’t be disappoi...
by Andos
Sun Jun 12, 2022 5:54 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Sanding belt cleaners
Replies: 8
Views: 6175

Re: Sanding belt cleaners

Probably best you err on the side of caution. I've seen a chipboard factory burn down from sparks going down the extraction pipes. :cl :cl :cl
by Andos
Sat Apr 30, 2022 4:28 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Macrocarpa for neck
Replies: 3
Views: 3998

Re: Macrocarpa for neck

Interesting stuff Mark. There is a whole world of macrocarpa I never knew existed. I always regard macrocarpa as good old mac. Knotty, twisted and only good for fire wood. I've spent eons looking for monterrey cypress, only to find out I've been burning it for the last 50yrs. Since all the covid non...
by Andos
Sun Mar 20, 2022 6:10 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Balalaika
Replies: 4
Views: 8340

Re: Balalaika

Thanks for the positive comments.
When I see the exemplary standard of workmanship here, I have a lot of improving to do yet!
Thanks to all those who freely give there skills and knowledge here. Without you lot I'd still be blundering around in the dark.
by Andos
Sat Mar 19, 2022 3:18 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Spindle switch
Replies: 14
Views: 11079

Re: Spindle switch

I'd try an electrician. No matter how expensive he is, it's cheaper than burning your workshop down. :D :D
by Andos
Sat Mar 05, 2022 4:29 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Balalaika
Replies: 4
Views: 8340

Balalaika

It’s been a long hard road but I’m finally making some 1/2 way reasonable looking instruments. Top mangeao Bowl Maire Neck Tawa Fretboard swamp maire 6A3D7D39-B341-4979-9474-8EC1DFF0A1BA.jpeg E937CFC9-F2D9-463B-85A0-6F664DC91043.jpeg 20E3E197-2DFE-4D1E-8432-EB90B53D69A6.jpeg 57A5984C-02A1-4D79-9A50-...
by Andos
Tue Jan 25, 2022 7:18 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Resawing, Bandsaw drift etc
Replies: 10
Views: 9610

Re: Resawing, Bandsaw drift etc

Thank you for those setup links.
I have a 14" x 180mm depth of cut modified to 220mm with home made roller guides. It's taken me weeks to learn how to sort the drift out and a 30 min video to find out I've made every setup mistake in the book.
Some lessons are hard learnt!!
by Andos
Fri Nov 26, 2021 11:59 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Schertier Slot Head Tuners
Replies: 5
Views: 4748

Re: Schertier Slot Head Tuners

Try a good engineering supply shop. They should have a 10mm counterbore with a 6mm guide. ( Used for counterboring cap screw heads)
by Andos
Sat Oct 23, 2021 9:22 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Ancient vs. Modern Kaurie
Replies: 3
Views: 3528

Re: Ancient vs. Modern Kaurie

This is what 20,000 years in a swamp does to rimu.
A b&s set of rimu milled 40 years ago and sitting on top, a piece of 20k year old swamp rimu.
20211023_110742~2.jpg
by Andos
Sat Oct 23, 2021 9:16 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Ancient vs. Modern Kaurie
Replies: 3
Views: 3528

Re: Ancient vs. Modern Kaurie

This is what 20,000 years in a swamp does to rimu.
A b&s set of rimu milled 40 years ago and sitting on top, a piece of 20k year old swamp rimu.
by Andos
Sat Oct 23, 2021 9:01 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Somewhere in here there is a guitar
Replies: 1
Views: 2537

Somewhere in here there is a guitar

An old pine that was blown over last summer and is about to become fire wood. Hopefully I can salvage at least one guitar our of it. Acoustically it won't be the best, but there should be some good figure in between those knots. There is also a 600mm diameter branch that has a 2m knot free section -...
by Andos
Sun Jun 27, 2021 1:26 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What happens when you die?
Replies: 11
Views: 9800

Re: What happens when you die?

The missus is pretty damn ruthless. Especially when she sees the chance of being able to park the car back in the garage.
by Andos
Sun Jun 27, 2021 11:10 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What happens when you die?
Replies: 11
Views: 9800

Re: What happens when you die?

All my wood and unfinished instruments become designer firewood. All my tools go to the local mens shed.