Search found 174 matches

by simonm
Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:39 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Finish sanding schedule..
Replies: 27
Views: 21587

Re: Finish sanding schedule..

I met a now retired builder here in Germany who said he never used finer than 220. Given that there are a number of different grading systems, it may not be the same 220 as you have in Oz.
by simonm
Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:35 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Another nice wood from behind my yard
Replies: 24
Views: 19142

Re: Another nice wood from behind my yard

No idea but it sure has the "wow" factor. Looks great.
by simonm
Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:01 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Where to get good veneers?
Replies: 33
Views: 26355

Re: Where to get good veneers?

Don't know about Oz but here in Germany eBay is definitely worth a shot. A vast range of veneers turns up from regular sellers to people closing down old workshops.
by simonm
Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:30 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Classical Guitar Construction
Replies: 14
Views: 12844

Re: Classical Guitar Construction

I found a toothed blade for my plane made a huge difference. Probably the best solution for thicknessing with hand tools. I also have a Record scraper plane, which works well but is much slower. Toothed blade down to nearly the thickness, scraper plane or card scraper to finish off. Mind you, I onl...
by simonm
Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:21 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Reverse Kerfing.
Replies: 6
Views: 6062

Re: Reverse Kerfing.

Phil wrote: All the excess glue was absorbed into the gaps instead of running down the sides, which usually requires a bit of a clean up.
Hmmm ... never thought of this. But that's enough to convert me all by itself.

:D

Thanks.

Simon
by simonm
Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:52 pm
Forum: Health and Safety
Topic: Wood Dust Sensitization
Replies: 20
Views: 47337

Re: Wood Dust Sensitization

What might be interesting is to create a list of (relatively) "harmless" woods. I have seen this idea mentioned a few times but I don't recall seeing anything a like a "bottom ten" woods for allergies. Spruce seems to get good marks. Not heard anything bad about maple (as in European maple). I suspe...
by simonm
Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:41 pm
Forum: Health and Safety
Topic: Big Boy sanders and fingers don't mix
Replies: 14
Views: 36539

Re: Big Boy sanders and fingers don't mix

Can't remember if it was here I saw it or somewhere else. Someone said that in some carpentry workshop there was a big sign on the door(s) which said "count your fingers" as a reminder to be careful and have the same number going in and coming out.

Hope you heal up 100% and quickly.
by simonm
Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:49 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: French Polishing--when is enough bodying?
Replies: 45
Views: 35592

Re: French Polishing--when is enough bodying?

Sometime back I saw a little video on youtube where one of the older Grenada luthiers was working on a French polish finish. I couldn't find the video right now otherwise I'd have put in a link. The guy was in his mid-60's in the video and wore a blue shop coat. I can't recall his name but I have a ...
by simonm
Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:46 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Laser engraving machines
Replies: 8
Views: 8206

Re: Laser engraving machines

I know nuttn' 'bout this stuff.
Here is something somewhat related that looks interesting. http://www.olsonguitars.com/shop_fadal.html
About $100k second hand.
by simonm
Sun Sep 11, 2011 8:15 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: sydney tourist info please ...
Replies: 15
Views: 11191

Re: sydney tourist info please ...

In north sydney. So far I am very impressed. I got a "my-multi" weekly ticket and spent saturday jumping on the ferries. Went up the Parramatta in the morning and then over to Watsons Bay and walked along the cliffs past Macquarie lighthouse. Then eventually back to the apartment when jet-lag kicked...
by simonm
Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:00 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Bass fails catastrophically at gig
Replies: 8
Views: 9267

Re: Bass fails catastrophically at gig

Makes transport easier I was passing through an airport in the US about 18 months ago when I saw a guy carry the neck of a bass. I was intrigue so I went up and asked him - I though he might have been a luthier on the road. He was a musician and told me he had a bass with a removable neck for trans...
by simonm
Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:21 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Is America getting silly now?
Replies: 45
Views: 30780

Re: Is America getting silly now?

There is some interesting reading here http://www.delcamp.us/viewtopic.php?f=107&t=61960 about this. A member who says he has been in the import/export biz for 10 years adds his views and then answers some points made by another member.
by simonm
Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:43 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Hey Lillian
Replies: 28
Views: 19446

Re: Hey Lillian

kiwigeo wrote:
http://www.charitywater.org/september/

Cheers Martin
Is there any other way of donating a few bucks to this lot? I am kind of allergic to the number of obligatory fields on their form. ;-)
by simonm
Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:01 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Lute making the old fashioned way
Replies: 6
Views: 5751

Re: Lute making the old fashioned way

Slightly off-topic. There is a museum (http://www.saalburgmuseum.de/english/home_engl.htm) near where I live which has an extensive exhibition of Roman handcrafts including carpentry and shoemaking. What is interesting is how little our tools change from the Romans until the advent of machine tools ...
by simonm
Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:49 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: sydney tourist info please ...
Replies: 15
Views: 11191

Re: sydney tourist info please ...

My plans are taking shape from a work perspective at any rate. I am going to grab a self-catering apartment close to Sydney bridge. The place has mixed reviews so if it turns out to be a flea bag I'll check out and get something else. For transport I reckon one of the weekly "multi-pass" tickets see...
by simonm
Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:54 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Is America getting silly now?
Replies: 45
Views: 30780

Re: Is America getting silly now?

It would be great to get an neutral view of what is going on here. It seems to revolve around three things: what legally constitutes a "log", what exactly the "sawn logs" Gibson got looked like, and how much work must be done on timber for the Indian government to consider it "finished" enough to be...
by simonm
Mon Aug 15, 2011 11:12 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: sydney tourist info please ...
Replies: 15
Views: 11191

Re: sydney tourist info please ...

Hmmm...
This looks like a hint that the water might a bit on the coolish side in September. 8)

So if I stay in the North Ryde area, is there anything to do there in the evenings or on Sat/Sun?
by simonm
Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:24 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: sydney tourist info please ...
Replies: 15
Views: 11191

Re: sydney tourist info please ...

Its a bit of a hike from North Ryde to any beach. You will learn about Sydney traffic :shock: 40mins would be a good run to the Northern beaches from North Ryde. IMO they are all much of a muchness. I prefer to get out of Sydney altogether. Very useful to know. Google maps told me 20 mins between t...
by simonm
Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:27 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: sydney tourist info please ...
Replies: 15
Views: 11191

Re: sydney tourist info please ...

kiwigeo wrote:I usually stay at The Observatory Hotel in The Rocks but it's not the cheapest digs in town.
Looks nice. But as you say not the cheapest. :) I guess about double what the company will pay. I can dream.
by simonm
Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:29 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: sydney tourist info please ...
Replies: 15
Views: 11191

sydney tourist info please ...

Looks like my job might bring me to Sydney for a week in September (10-17). 8) There is a possibility that I might then stay for some vacation after that but that's another question. My job will have me in our office in North Ryde so what I am wondering is what part of the city would be good for a h...
by simonm
Sat Jul 23, 2011 5:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Lightweight router recommendations?
Replies: 26
Views: 29958

Re: Lightweight router recommendations?

As a side, I do have a Foredom Air Turbine Grinder, but have not set it up for this job. It's handpiece is a little more specialized so would require adapting for the base. It also runs at 200'000 RPM :shock:, requiring special bits too. Holy smoke Batman, that is one fast machine. I can see how yo...
by simonm
Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:00 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Hi. First time builder Questions.
Replies: 15
Views: 15321

Re: Hi. First time builder Questions.

I did my first guitar with the N&C book. Its a good book. Later I got the Courtnall book. Since I have Courtnall I rarely look in the other but then I am only doing classicals at the moment. I blow up the Courtnall plans on an xerox workstation pro at work - its not quite big enough so I have to cut...
by simonm
Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:15 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Hauser Soundboard Clamps
Replies: 8
Views: 8986

Re: Hauser Soundboard Clamps

. I just got this link from a Spanish cyberbuddy (sorry, that online shop seems only to be in Spanish - that's the price for saving some $$$ or €€€). Such thread cutters surely are also available somewhere else. That same shop is one of the few places on line that I've seen the Makita 3709 for sale...
by simonm
Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:34 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Hauser Soundboard Clamps
Replies: 8
Views: 8986

Re: Hauser Soundboard Clamps

Pretty neat idea. Dead simple yet effective. It would be fairly easy to make a similar set-up if you were so inclined.

Thanks for posting.

Simonm
by simonm
Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Classical Guitar Construction
Replies: 10
Views: 11722

Re: Classical Guitar Construction

kiwigeo wrote:If I was asked to chose one book it would be Courtnall.
+1