Search found 4741 matches
- Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:09 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: CNC Fretboard
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4098
Re: CNC Fretboard
I've been doing my complete fret board on my CNC for 10 years. I use Fusion360 for my CAD/CAM and made up a Master Model to create any scale as well as nut and saddle width, fret board thickness, radius etc. Building everything from a narrow Soprano scale to a Guitar and everything in between. Blind...
- Sun Aug 04, 2024 6:40 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: RIP Bob Cefalu
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4887
RIP Bob Cefalu
Many of us have been purchasing timber from Bob (RC Tonewoods) for decades. He had supported and sponsored this forum from it's beginning. I still have a Cocobolo and German Spruce guitar set he donated as an fundraising auction to help with costs of running the forum. https://www.lombardofuneralhom...
- Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:35 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Domain name issues
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7637
Re: Domain name issues
I've had similar emails many times over the years Peter. Just tell them to piss off. It's only a scam to part the easily fooled with their money.
- Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:25 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Laser engravers
- Replies: 5
- Views: 4898
Re: Laser engravers
I've had a 40W Epilog for 12 years. First up, don't bother with trying to engrave or cut any Ebony. Simply won't happen especially with just 5W. At that power output you will only have success at engraving in lighter color softwood in a single pass. It will take multiple passes to do any cutting at ...
- Tue Jun 27, 2023 5:40 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Mirotone 3220 buffing
- Replies: 5
- Views: 22980
Re: Mirotone 3220 buffing
3M and Autoglym are also excellent buffing products. 3M range is huge so it might take some research into the best option.
- Fri Jun 09, 2023 5:24 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Warning - Border Control have shifted the goal posts
- Replies: 9
- Views: 21545
Re: Warning - Border Control have shifted the goal posts
I'm on several forums with full time luthiers all over the world and see similar tales with them dealing with their bureaucracy becoming more over the top and onerous to navigate......and expensive in time and fees. Common consensus is that for pain free shipping experience keeping the declared valu...
- Fri Apr 07, 2023 5:55 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Pore fill question
- Replies: 24
- Views: 71836
Re: Pore fill question
Absolutely every thing you could think of has been tried as a pore filler. And I have tried a fair number of them. Nothing new under the sun. It comes down to what you want to accomplish, how much time you are willing to devote to it, and what are your expectations such as clarity, sink back or movi...
- Mon Apr 03, 2023 5:22 am
- Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
- Topic: Candle Jig for Top / Back Joining
- Replies: 10
- Views: 29263
Re: Candle Jig for Top / Back Joining
I got that one at JayCar. If you are not in Australia a Electronics store, or I suppose Amazon. Though the later option was more expensive than the one I purchased.
- Mon Mar 27, 2023 7:11 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Timber Species for Tenor Ukelele Tops
- Replies: 5
- Views: 7268
Re: Timber Species for Tenor Ukelele Tops
Folk instruments such as Ukuleles have use of many more options for soundboards. Most were not particularly difficult or expensive to source for where the instrument was built. So mahogany, koa, mango in Hawaii are traditional for body and soundboard. Australia has heaps of local timbers that the re...
- Sat Mar 11, 2023 6:47 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Pore fill question
- Replies: 24
- Views: 71836
Re: Pore fill question
I switched to BoteCote epoxy with no-yellowing hardner years ago. Always add their TPRDA thinning additive. Living in Cairns it is dead easy to mix and is very thin going on even in what you could call our "Winter". Always gets 3 sessions for all timbers and 4 for the odd one that has enormous pores...
- Fri Feb 17, 2023 4:29 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Goings on in the workshop
- Replies: 15
- Views: 18478
Re: Goings on in the workshop
Been working on how to switch to laminated back and sides for a while now. The way most accomplish this using the outside mould to do the sides was just a royal PITA far too prone to poor glue up if you didn't get the clamps / cauls just so. Especially difficult on the very tight curves on small uku...
- Tue Jan 24, 2023 6:31 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Fret Tang Filer
- Replies: 2
- Views: 4325
Re: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Fret Tang Filer
I've been using this tool for several years now and it does everything it's suppose to. Clean, fast and accurate. Couldn't ask for more.
- Wed Jan 04, 2023 7:16 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - CNC and Lutherie
- Replies: 5
- Views: 8368
Re: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - CNC and Lutherie
When I decided I wanted to be a full time builder I had been doing some time / process testing to work out where I could save time, increase accuracy etc. to be more productive so it would be possible to replace the income from the day job. Didn't take long to come up with a list of huge time waster...
- Wed Dec 14, 2022 7:18 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Carbon Fibre Rods for Acoustic Guitar Neck
- Replies: 4
- Views: 5960
Re: Carbon Fibre Rods for Acoustic Guitar Neck
The 4X6mm rods that are linked are the ones I've been using for 10 years.
- Wed Dec 07, 2022 6:23 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Frets causing back bow
- Replies: 8
- Views: 15027
Re: Frets causing back bow
I use the standard width tang fret wire and had used the SM 0.023" fret saw until I changed to doing slots on my CNC. When my fret slots were cut straight through on the table saw my fret boards always had a back bow. When I switched to blind fret slots (similar to a bound fret board) my fret boards...
- Tue Nov 22, 2022 6:42 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Has anyone used Mirotone 3220 over CA glue grain fill
- Replies: 8
- Views: 8021
Re: Has anyone used Mirotone 3220 over CA glue grain fill
No, the finish does not replace pore filling.
You still need to get that right if you want a a mirror like finish.
You still need to get that right if you want a a mirror like finish.
- Sun Nov 13, 2022 7:04 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Has anyone used Mirotone 3220 over CA glue grain fill
- Replies: 8
- Views: 8021
Re: Has anyone used Mirotone 3220 over CA glue grain fill
All these products are the premium ones in their line. Most expensive as well, but I've simply never come across a product that is even close to how good they are on timber. Switching to them has taken a minimum 4 weeks off my finishing schedule over Nitro, and the finish quality can't even be compa...
- Fri Nov 11, 2022 7:00 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Has anyone used Mirotone 3220 over CA glue grain fill
- Replies: 8
- Views: 8021
Re: Has anyone used Mirotone 3220 over CA glue grain fill
Been years since I've used 3220 but yes, it did work when I did. Though it's only in the pores and not a coating on the surface. I used CA on my head plate veneers to do quick fill before engraving and inlaying. On everything else I use Epoxy and there is no issues at all. I use Mirotone polyurethan...
- Fri Nov 11, 2022 6:56 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Making a Neapolitan Mandolin in Naples - November 2022
- Replies: 12
- Views: 12488
Re: Making a Neapolitan Mandolin in Naples - November 2022
Fascinating process. Love seeing the progress.
To order photo's the way you want, you have to insert them by picking the one you want in the list of phot's and inserting the code. Otherwise the software uses a default that never is in the correct order for me at least.
To order photo's the way you want, you have to insert them by picking the one you want in the list of phot's and inserting the code. Otherwise the software uses a default that never is in the correct order for me at least.
- Sun Nov 06, 2022 10:40 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Koa Soprano with Frangipani Inlay
- Replies: 2
- Views: 14705
Re: Koa Soprano with Frangipani Inlay
Haven't numbered them but going by my commision list and a rough guess of how many spec ones, it's well over 500. Then another 150 for uke building classes that I ran.
- Mon Oct 31, 2022 6:46 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Koa Soprano with Frangipani Inlay
- Replies: 2
- Views: 14705
Koa Soprano with Frangipani Inlay
I've been asked to build quite a few soprano's the last year and orders still coming in. This one is the third I've built for this client who has a massive collection of instruments and knows what she likes in the way of sound and playability. This time she asked for Koa body for a warmer tone over ...
- Mon Oct 31, 2022 6:39 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke
- Replies: 10
- Views: 20873
Re: Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke
It glued as easy as any timber I've used, and bending wasn't a problem. I take my sides down to 1.7mm and just to be safe as I wasn't sure how it would bend I used some veneer softener that I got from Carbatec years ago and rarely use. Pore filling was about as easy as you can get as they are small ...
- Sat Oct 29, 2022 7:11 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke
- Replies: 10
- Views: 20873
Re: Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke
No not Macassar. I have a heap of that on my shelves. It's often called Black and White Ebony. To be honest I have no idea where it comes from, but it sure can be pretty.
- Sat Oct 29, 2022 5:30 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke
- Replies: 10
- Views: 20873
Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke
Just finished another lot of instruments. This one of two for a client that has commisioned instruments in low G and high G versions. It's a 18.5" scale to accomodate the 14 fret to body. First time using Mun Ebony and was pleasantly surprised at it's workability and how it finishes. Sound board is ...
- Fri Oct 28, 2022 7:52 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Miratone 3220 source
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4792
Re: Miratone 3220 source
You may be able to find a shop that breaks down to 1 litre sizes. My supplier in Cairns for all Mirotone products does this and has them on the shlef.