Search found 54 matches

by joolstacho
Fri Aug 11, 2023 11:16 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: R.I.P. David Churchill
Replies: 5
Views: 18580

Re: R.I.P. David Churchill

We're so sad to hear of David's passing.
He was a true gentleman, and a lovely feller. Yes his instruments are works of finest craftsmanship.
Had some great chats with him at the shows.
Maybe the 'rollies' finally caught up with him, whatever... Cya mate.
by joolstacho
Tue Mar 22, 2022 12:56 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 0 Taper Bridge Pins
Replies: 19
Views: 13147

Re: 0 Taper Bridge Pins

I've used these pins in the past and they are really, really good! BUT! They fit 180 degrees opposite to normal pins, - the string runs in the slot which is fitted to the rear, and then goes through the hole and out to the front and over the saddle. BUT... do be careful when you remove a pin to chan...
by joolstacho
Tue Jan 25, 2022 4:20 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: vacuum press
Replies: 10
Views: 7128

Re: vacuum press

Nigel, I'm currently selling one. See my Closing Down Sale. It consists of a steel lid lined with rubber which has lots of holes drilled through. The outer face of the lid has two knobs which control the 'sucking area'. It was originally used in the printing industry for film-making. It easily hinge...
by joolstacho
Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:55 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: how to remove cigarett smell from and old instrument
Replies: 7
Views: 15617

Re: how to remove cigarett smell from and old instrument

Since I gave up the fags about 8 years ago, I'd be hanging on to that fragrant smokey!
by joolstacho
Tue Jun 14, 2016 4:49 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: help required.
Replies: 18
Views: 20612

Re: help required.

How could you get hide glue to wick into the crack?
by joolstacho
Sun Jun 12, 2016 6:29 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The zero fret
Replies: 27
Views: 31304

Re: The zero fret

Personally I like the ZF. Mind you, I often use a slightly higher zero fret, which allows for a slightly lower action 'up top' or heavier 'country pos' playing before buzzing becomes an issue. Obviously fret levelling needs to be done before the zero fret is inserted, (and I usually make the ZF slot...
by joolstacho
Sun Jun 12, 2016 5:42 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: help required.
Replies: 18
Views: 20612

Re: help required.

A couple of small oval 3mm thick spruce patches epoxied on the inside spanning over the crack, positioned using magnets (ask), wick thin superglue into the split from the outside, and superglue to fix the binding. (IMO).
by joolstacho
Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:29 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: NZ source for Z-poxy?
Replies: 10
Views: 9589

Re: NZ source for Z-poxy?

Just use West Systems... far better product!
by joolstacho
Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:21 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: SG Pickguard info needed
Replies: 4
Views: 5155

Re: SG Pickguard info needed

Well buddy, try to get a genuine Gibson SG pickguard. They don't list a replacement part... and even if they did it would cost an outrageous fortune! I'm aware of the possible variations/accuracy issues, that's why I posted, -hoping someone might have encountered this so I can suck their experience!...
by joolstacho
Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:21 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: SG Pickguard info needed
Replies: 4
Views: 5155

SG Pickguard info needed

I'm fixing a 2005 Gibson SG standard (I think the stack may have fallen on it... the case is lunched!) I need to buy or make a new pickguard for it, (it's the 'full-face' type). I've found a supplier in America, but I need to know if/what variations there might be in the shape and screwhole position...
by joolstacho
Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:35 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: bindings.....
Replies: 18
Views: 17321

Re: bindings.....

As I said, I haven't actually got around to building mine yet, :dru but hopefully the pic should tell a thousand words. Note that I've removed the friction wheel (it would be just above the plastic clamp) that makes the 'head' (the stikky out bit in front) rise and fall,- in prep for suspending it o...
by joolstacho
Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:12 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: bindings.....
Replies: 18
Views: 17321

Re: bindings.....

Just in case anyone may be thinking of making one like Lillian's, (which is a beaut'), I think you could get one together pretty cheaply and very easily using an old photographic enlarger. Since digital, there's a million discarded photographic darkroom enlargers out there, I picked up 2 from charit...
by joolstacho
Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:54 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Port Fairy Instrumentworx pictures
Replies: 13
Views: 13316

Re: Port Fairy Instrumentworx pictures

Yes, thanks Bob, some really nice pics there. It was a great show I thought. Good variety, quality instruments, good company, good crowds. My highlight was peering over Harry Manx's shoulder while he played one of Tim Kill's evil machines. Very cool. One customer of mine who'd just bought a cigarbox...
by joolstacho
Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:46 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Water based clear filler
Replies: 10
Views: 14012

Re: Water based clear filler

Dominic, you can mix thicknessers with epoxies. The one worth trying would be Aluminium oxide. This is a very fine powder that thickens up the resin. You wouldn't need much, it mixes into a very smooth consistency. I use West systems epoxy, (a much better resin than Zpoxy in my opinion) and haven't ...
by joolstacho
Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:36 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Small volume epoxy technique
Replies: 30
Views: 27783

Re: Small volume epoxy technique

Very small resin mixes are a bit of a worry, -the less you mix, the less accurate your measurement. Epoxy resin is not gold dust so why not mix a bit more qty? You do need to be fairly precise, but a small say, 30ml medicine type measuring cup is quite accurate enough. I'd usually mix a minimum of 3...
by joolstacho
Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:07 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Whats been keeping me off the streets lately
Replies: 14
Views: 13843

Re: Whats been keeping me off the streets lately

Nice work Taffy. Busy boy! I've been doing cigarbox guitars for a few years... fun to play and very low stress building! Light relief after doing 'real' guitars. Here's a few of mine, a couple of 3-string fretless (slide) models, (I tune 'em GDG -good for blues improv). The other one is a 4-stringer...
by joolstacho
Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:54 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 'Z' Poxy
Replies: 41
Views: 35185

Re: 'Z' Poxy

Martin, it's not so much that it's not as strong, more about WHY it's not as strong. Has it cured to a really 'crisp' state or is the chemical process compromised so that it's a bit on the soft side? - I've seen mouldings that are like this, and if you tap them they're absolutely dead, whereas a pro...
by joolstacho
Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:09 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bunya tree (what interest?)
Replies: 9
Views: 9077

Re: Bunya tree (what interest?)

Thanks for the input, all good points. I'll keep tabs on it and let you know how we go. First thing will be to check it out when it comes down, and we'll need to decide what lengths to cut for transportation, and initial storage etc. I'll be calling on the collective expertise soon I hope. A few yea...
by joolstacho
Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:39 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bunya tree (what interest?)
Replies: 9
Views: 9077

Bunya tree (what interest?)

A mate of mine is about to fell a big, old, good Bunya tree, (est 1.2 metre girth 120 feet in height) and I'm wondering about what interest there may be for the timber. (Nobody's interested in making bucks out of this, but if is there is some interest, I'll look into milling etc). The tree has been ...
by joolstacho
Fri Oct 14, 2011 11:20 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 'Z' Poxy
Replies: 41
Views: 35185

Re: 'Z' Poxy

I'd be very dubious about thinning epoxy resins to get better penetration into the grain. Typically you'll get 35% decrease in strength if you add even as little as 5% thinners. Epoxy chemistry is pretty critical, and not designed for thinning. If I use epoxy I want to get the absolute max hardness ...
by joolstacho
Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:09 pm
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Early tools
Replies: 18
Views: 22450

All good

Today I turned up some spacers on my ancient American lathe, sliced some bracings on my beautiful ol' German cast iron typographer's sliding table saw, then I was at a mate's making new blade guides for my bandsaw on his superb Fanuc CNC milling machine. Tools and machines, young or old, - beautiful.
by joolstacho
Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:48 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: A quickie
Replies: 2
Views: 3744

A quickie

Check this out. (And WTF does it take me months to do one!!!)
http://www.parkguitars.com/djangofest-n ... ar-raffle/
by joolstacho
Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:29 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: carbon fibre acoustics - my rant....
Replies: 8
Views: 8608

Re: carbon fibre acoustics - my rant....

I wuz thinking about this one... I've made a range of geets using carbon/glass bowl structure with conventional spruce soundboards. I can't comment on Rainsong etc 'cos I haven't tried them. My conclusions (on my work) is as follows; My 12 string 'glass' version is more successful than the 6 stringe...
by joolstacho
Mon Aug 22, 2011 8:52 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Something to fret over
Replies: 12
Views: 10165

Re: Something to fret over

Here's the go... If you look at the tang of the fretwire you'll see small (usually) triangular shapes standing proud. These are like barbs. The reason it's best to bend the fretwire to a tighter radius than your fretboard is that if you tap the fret ends in the slot first, then tap them in working f...
by joolstacho
Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:55 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: another introduction (and bonus tonewood question)
Replies: 36
Views: 36315

Re: another introduction (and bonus tonewood question)

Personal experience leads me to the conclusion that Bunya may work, but is rather bland in it's sound characteristics. Cole Clark bunya soundboards don't have conventional bracing, they CNC machine integral bracing into the top, which muddies the waters a bit when it comes to comparision with say, a...