Search found 72 matches

by Pat.Hawkins
Sun Nov 11, 2018 6:55 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: B/wood parlour
Replies: 15
Views: 24164

Re: B/wood parlour

Hi Wayne,
I hope you don't mind me harping back to the earlier comments but........

Here's one that I had to "adjust" :D
WP_20181111_16_39_03_Pro.jpg
I love what you've done .........
Gives me inspiration for all my future re-adjustments.
Cheers
by Pat.Hawkins
Mon Oct 15, 2018 9:33 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Replacing an acoustic neck
Replies: 4
Views: 5972

Re: Replacing an acoustic neck

Hi Steve, a great tute! Are you saying a poor neck angle can be "flossed" into the correct position? I'm about to put a figured blackwood neck in the fire bucket as I've been trying to rescue the neck angle with chisels. I have the StewMac dovetail templates but feel I've never mastered (or fully un...
by Pat.Hawkins
Sun Sep 02, 2018 9:59 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: More on dust extraction
Replies: 18
Views: 24607

Re: More on dust extraction

Wow - That's a reply!

Guess I've got some more homework to do like considering dropping a non-essential or two (like the bobbin sander) and get the extraction right.

Thanks.
by Pat.Hawkins
Fri Aug 31, 2018 10:44 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: More on dust extraction
Replies: 18
Views: 24607

More on dust extraction

Hi Folks, I see Joseph's drum sander post was morphing into a dust control topic. It raised a few questions with me as I'll be setting up a new shop soon and the extractor is my first consideration. I guess I'll have a single duct with multiple shut-offs using one machine at a time. The Carbatec and...
by Pat.Hawkins
Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:13 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Shaping rasp
Replies: 7
Views: 10411

Re: Shaping rasp

Hi Jesse, I still feel I'm in the beginner category. (Not too many builds). I really like the flat and round microplanes but I believe I ruined my first pair on blackwood and applying too much downward force. They don't cut very well now as I've probably flattened the teeth. Good tool - just poor te...
by Pat.Hawkins
Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:16 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Fret bending?
Replies: 12
Views: 15365

Re: Fret bending?

Trevor Gore has one in the Jigs and Fixtures section.

I followed his example and it works pretty well.
Mine's "not quite as precise" as Trevor's - it consists of a piece of mdf and three wooden dowels.
The spacing was a bit wide so I wrapped with masking tape to "fine tune" :D
by Pat.Hawkins
Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:42 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Pear Shaped Tenor Ukes
Replies: 8
Views: 11568

Re: Blackwood Concert with Cherry Blossome inlay

Hi Jim,
Beautiful - inspirational stuff!

I'm trying to make a tailpiece similar to the (stainless?) one in the photo.
(Using brass sheet around 1mm thick)

Could you share how you get such a neat curl around the front edge? ...........

and any other tips a beginner might use?

Cheers
by Pat.Hawkins
Thu Mar 29, 2018 6:34 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Airbrush advice
Replies: 10
Views: 12216

Re: Airbrush advice

Thanks guys, That's something I love about this forum - some many different ways to achieve a result. I had the chance to play with an airbrush the other day and really enjoyed it. The compressor struggled (1/8 hp). I got around 15 seconds of spraying before the compressor did a one minute recovery....
by Pat.Hawkins
Sat Mar 24, 2018 11:02 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Airbrush advice
Replies: 10
Views: 12216

Airbrush advice

Hi Folks, I'm interested in learning how to do a sunburst finish. I've had a couple of attempts with hand-rubbed water based dyes with poor results. (Does anyone know of some decent tutorials)? I'm also interested in trying airbrushing. Are there things to avoid for the first-time buyer? I've seen a...
by Pat.Hawkins
Fri Feb 23, 2018 11:57 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: FREE MONEY!!!
Replies: 17
Views: 90262

Re: FREE MONEY!!!

Likewise!!

It's great that you folk take the time to support and encourage us novices :)
by Pat.Hawkins
Wed Jan 31, 2018 6:27 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Soundboard crack
Replies: 4
Views: 6403

Re: Soundboard crack

This is such a great forum! The support is really appreciated. Thank you for the replies, it's given us real confidence in making a good repair. As it's a tenor we can't get a hand down the sound hole. Just waiting for that camera now - hopefully a repair image later :) Just as an aside.....I must t...
by Pat.Hawkins
Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:24 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Soundboard crack
Replies: 4
Views: 6403

Soundboard crack

Hi Folks, my son is slowly building his first tenor ukelele and I'm still in single figures. We've had a bit of a soundboard disaster (as the image shows). I think we'll try some cross-grain cleats underneath pulled up with some fine wire and a home made winch using a tuner - but we're open to sugge...
by Pat.Hawkins
Sat Dec 30, 2017 3:52 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Some ideas just don't work
Replies: 4
Views: 5113

Some ideas just don't work

Perhaps this should be in the Jigs and Fixtures thread.... but it just didn't seem worthy :) This Tenor Ukelele bridge clamp seemed plausible in theory but in practice it was quite poor. The main fault being that it rolls the bridge forward. I don't feel it's worth pursuing any further. Tenor uke br...
by Pat.Hawkins
Sun Nov 26, 2017 11:30 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Superglues in luthierie
Replies: 12
Views: 12772

Re: Superglues in luthierie

Sometimes the dust and glue trick results in a darker colour.
I'm considering collecting jars of dust to test on.

Does anyone have any tips for colour matching/filling?
Cheers
by Pat.Hawkins
Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:30 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Clamping a neck
Replies: 2
Views: 3942

Clamping a neck

Hi Folks,
I don't have one of those fancy guitar vices so just looking at ways to clamp the neck during shaping. The taper presents a problem with holding and I'm worried about the weakness due to the truss rod slot.

Any suggestions?
Cheers
by Pat.Hawkins
Mon Oct 02, 2017 9:45 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Block grain direction
Replies: 9
Views: 10234

Re: Block grain direction

Thank you for the great replies.

I'll do a ply tail block.

I have some straight celery top.
Would that be ok for bracing and neck block?
Cheers
by Pat.Hawkins
Sun Oct 01, 2017 5:44 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Block grain direction
Replies: 9
Views: 10234

Block grain direction

Hi Folks,
Does it matter which way the grain runs on the two body blocks?

Should they follow the direction of the sides?
Or be at ninety degrees to the sides?

Thanks for a great forum.
by Pat.Hawkins
Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:46 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: To kerf or not to kerf - that is the question.
Replies: 1
Views: 3327

To kerf or not to kerf - that is the question.

Hi Folks, I've just started #2 :D The instructional video shows kerfed lining on one side and solid (pre-bent) strips on the other. That's puzzling as its the same shape for both. Does it matter which method you use? is there a reason why one side was kerfed and not the other? Be patient with me.......
by Pat.Hawkins
Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:41 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Broken headstock
Replies: 8
Views: 9550

Re: Broken headstock

Robbie O'Brien has a short video pretty close to this.
it's one of his Tips Du Jopur.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdjHboSPCzg

Cheers
by Pat.Hawkins
Fri Nov 25, 2016 5:19 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Router slip - - Help again!
Replies: 2
Views: 4580

Router slip - - Help again!

Hi Folks, my young fellow is building his first tenor ukelele and as you can see the router elevation slipped during the cut. (We did so many good practice cuts - why does that happen)? The RH cheek is still quite full and holds quite well but the LH one has a lot of meat missing and the neck can le...
by Pat.Hawkins
Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:41 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Binding cleanup - Help
Replies: 6
Views: 7809

Binding cleanup - Help

Hi Folks, I've been making a couple of dulcimers with two young fellows and decided to try some black/white/black purfling as binding. As you can see we left the binding a bit proud and sanded away the outer black in places. We've managed to preserve the top edges so they still look ok from above. I...
by Pat.Hawkins
Mon Oct 31, 2016 12:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Binding Glue
Replies: 11
Views: 13222

Re: Binding Glue

Hi Steve, yes, I recall California Poppy also. Dad's bottle was shared with the boys on special occasions :D back to the topic......... Rather than plastic bindings, I have some of that black/white/black purfling. It's around 3mm x 1mm Can anyone see a problem with me stacking two of those to make a...
by Pat.Hawkins
Thu Oct 20, 2016 4:40 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Binding Glue
Replies: 11
Views: 13222

Re: Binding Glue

Hi Old_Picker is it:
A little dab'll dou'ya

for Brylcream?

I'm in my late fifties and remember Brylcream was a household name around the country:-)

Cheers - Pat
(now de-lurked and grateful for the replies)
by Pat.Hawkins
Wed Oct 19, 2016 8:23 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Binding Glue
Replies: 11
Views: 13222

Binding Glue

Hi Folks,
a genuine question, but also wanted to unlurk myself :-)

I have some plastic bindings for a mountain dulcimer and need to get them on within two weeks.

I think I've left my run a bit late for a mail order adhesive?

Any recommendations? - Cheers
by Pat.Hawkins
Sat Sep 03, 2016 3:44 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Buckled side
Replies: 3
Views: 4882

Buckled side

Hi Folks, my son has just closed up his first tenor uke body and after removing the clamps we've found that the side has caved in on the lower bout close to the waist. I recon we had too much clamping pressure while fixing on the soundboard. We managed to get some of the curve out with a wet cloth a...