Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Class??? Thanks for the vote of confidence Phanty. If you want to see class then check out Craig's 12 string....my instrument is very much a learn as you go affair. There are alot of things about this instrument that bug me..things that could have been done better with a bit more patience and planni...

While we're taking the p*ss out of Kiwis........check this out:

http://www.break.com/index/dirty_deeds_ ... sheep.html

Okay the boss and myself are heading over to Sydney for a few days.

Any reccomendations for a good hotel in the central city area. I stayed at the Novatel Darling Harbour last time and it was cr*p so that ones off the list.

Price wise Im willing to pay up to $300 a night.

Cheers Martin

Gluing on the bridge is my least favourite part of building a guitar. I usually spend 3-4 days working out intonation and the best position to put the bridge. It then reaches the point where I say to myself....."stuff it if I dont just glue the bastard on now it'll never get glued on". Pics attached...

I often ask the question...why do politicians get into politics?

In 99% of cases it's in order to further themselves financially...its nothing to do with serving your country. In Australia its especially the case at local government level.....most local councillors are developers or business people.

Have a safe trip Bob.

Cheers Martin

Great response to my query Craig. Answered my questions. Just one more request...could you possibly provide me with with your theoretical scale length (2 x nut to 12th fret distance will do) and actual scale length from nut to break point for each string on the saddle. A big ask I know but it would ...

Thanks Grant,

Ive printed out that MSDS to go on display in my workshop. I try and keep an MSDS handy for all potentially hazardous chemicals in my shop.

Shellite doesnt look like good stuff to get on your skin.....

Nice jig Craig......but imagine how it would look with a nice Porter Cable lam trimmer sitting in it. I forgot to mention my other misgivings about the Dremels...the bearings are crap. Horses for courses I guess. Ive just noticed your neat way of mounting the body in your workboard for the binding c...

Paul, I recall a thread in OLF or even in here where I was asking about sourcing naptha here in Oz. Shellite was identified as the nearest thing. I get my Shellite from my local Mitre 10. Unfortunately they dont put exactly what Shellite is on the outside of the bottles. Okay heres one thread on the...

Heres a pic og my Luthier Tools binding channel cutting jig. Im actually using it to cut out some old binding off a classical but the way it works is the same. The lam trimmer is a Porter Cable 301 and the cutter is a double flute straight cutter. Thumb screws on the jig allow adjustment of the dept...

Mark, Ive got the Steamac Dremel router base and binding attachment but have never used it. I used the rosette cutting jig once and made a hash job of it...router attachment screws kept working loose halfway through the cut and the rosette jig has too much flex in it for my liking. One trick with th...

Hi Alfred I never bother buying pumice, I just pick it up at the beach. To process it into powder just give it a rough crush then wash it out in a bucket. Take the floating pumice from the bucket, let it dry then grind it down to a powder (hammer in an old breakfast bowl does the trick). I put this...

Mark, Were you using a jig of any sort when cutting binding channels with the Dremel? I used to cut my binding channels with a full size router and the Stewmac cutter/bearing kit. It worked ok but because the flat router plate was registering on the arched top and back of my guitars the cut wasnt al...

Welcome to the forums Mark, I noticed you lurking around a few times and was waiting for your first post. A few comments: 1. Titebond comes in various "flavours".....myself and alot of other people prefer Titebond I. 2. The Dremel is a useful tool but of you start using it for cutting binding channe...

Thanks Jeff,

Ill see how I go once Im strung up with the Stewmac Intonator on the bridge and then decide wether I can get away with a narrower saddle.

Cheers Martin

Has anyone ever wondered why Qantas coffee has a strange musty taste?

Apparently they often run out of filters for the coffee machines and the hosties wip off their panti-hose and filter the brew through same.

Grant, you got your ears on mate?

Hi Grant, 1. I use shellite to clean wood prior to finishing after going over surface forst with a painters tack cloth. Shellite is also good for visualising look of wood under finish. I also use it to clean grease and oil off fret wire prior to a fret job. 2. In between French Polish sessions I giv...

Would silica powder mixed in with the egg white do the same job? I mention that only because I don't have any pumice, but I do have silica powder. Will try it out on an offcut. This topic has been very helpful to me. finishing is not my strong point. It depends on what exactly you're referring to a...

Ok Im currently setting up bridge position on the 12 string and need to consider compensation for each string. The saddle will be 5mm wide to give me a bit of leeway with fine tuning compensation and the saddle slot will be routed after bridge is glued on. Will cutting a slot that allows for 6mm of ...

Paul B wrote:...it was supposed to be whiting, maybe they waved one over the plate or something..

Pop into my house next time youre down my way and you can have a feed of SA whiting and it wont cost you a cent.

Nice one Matthew....

Allen wrote: And just to let you know. I'm usually a fan of air line food. It's better than a lot of the food I've had in the local restaurants.

You must have some really bad local restaurants.

A strange odour which forced a Qantas jet carrying 133 passengers to make an emergency landing in Perth has been traced to a food oven. A Qantas spokeswoman said the oven was in the rear galley of the Boeing 767, which was 30 minutes into a flight from Perth to Brisbane when the odour was detected. ...