Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Thinning it to 1mm of so and laminating to another timber such as cypress or might get around the issue of movement/suitability for back and sides. Also might be worth considering just incorporating it into rosettes if you want a much easier way of using the timber while still highlighting it on ins...

Very nice! I like the way the headstock, rosette and bridge all complement each other...

Excellent book. I got mine in the first run and it came signed by the great man

Awesome work on this build... very artistic. Love the headstock and the colours all match great. I bet all that detail work took a long time! Looks like a lot of care and fun.. congrats

Two great looking guitars that really showcase the woods used... I particularly like the rosette design on the koa one.

How is the all koa tone? Is it similar to an all mahogany guitar? I'm considering making an all australian red cedar guitar so am keen to hear your thoughts...

Stunning! Just want to pick it up and play it...

Thanks for the heads-up. Exactly what i've been looking for to go with my festo random orbital... at 1/10th the price of the festo version

In QLD there is also Gregory's machinery. I found their service when buying is great, but really terrible when i had a warranty issue (with my Laguna). In NSW there is Trend Timbers- they also stock band saws etc. IMO get what you can from Machinery House - i've always had wonderful service from the...

Vintage planes work great - look for ones in good condition and do a little setup work. I do most of my work using size 4 and 5 Stanleys, mostly the 4. I also have some larger Carter planes which seem ok, but the larger ones are a luxury not a necessity. All really well priced... you can have a full...

Nice looking guitar, congratulations. I like the clean looking headstock design especially.

The Tas myrtle in my stash is quite pink...which i quite like, but good to know it can go golden too

Thanks all!

Tonight I finally finished my 4th build (2nd steel string). This one has a euro spruce soundboard (with a touch of bear claw) and indian rosewood back and sides. The mosaic rosette is Australian red cedar. The finish is shellac over superglue. The neck is new guinea rosewood with a 14 fret body join...

Two wonderful looking guitars, certainly head-turners.

Having not yet perfected a good, non toxic pore fill technique I love the idea of not pore filling! The finish looks great on this guitar and I note that it is sold so the customer must agree

the air filtration unit arrived and does a great job. it is a bigger beastie than i expected but that is ok

Hi Bruce... FE17 inspired. I'd propose that Torres would use a bolt on neck, routers and probably Aussie blackwood too if he was around today...

Have emailed to those who have asked (including Kim)...

I can send you the Torres FE17 plans (can be built with or without a tornavoz). It is small with beautiful proportions. Just pm me your email. I just marked out a template last night using the printed plans with a view to getting started on the body mold (prints in A2 at officeworks or similar). Now...

Hi Kim - they have a $50 voucher if you havent bought from them before - sign up for the mates rates promo thing on their website

Thanks Allen, and everyone for the helpful advice, I'm going to get the machinery house unit

Hi Kim, for what it's worth I've narrowed my search to three options: 1. The machinery house one Steve mentions above (looks to be three times as powerful on specs and quieter than the other one they are offering, which you linked to). Cost is $385 + shipping. Most expensive but still cheaper than m...

Like everyone else already said, thanks for this little bit of the world you have helped to build, Bob! I'm a daily visitor to the site...it is essential reading and I learn something every day from the collective wisdom. The whiskey venture sounds exciting and Tassie is a beautiful place... I've he...

Thanks Alan. I suspect slightly different working conditions with different neighbours here in Canberra to you in the tropics. I'm in suburbia built up to the neighbours and mostly work around 8pm to midnight... it's frosty cold and there would be complaints :) Thanks for helping me to rule out the ...

My dust extractor seems to get most of the dust but not all of it, especially the really small stuff that just seems to hang in the air which I imagine is the dust that really should be kept out of the lungs. Also the extractor has accidentally turned into a dust blower a couple of times! Hand sandi...

Hi guys- i'm looking to get an air filtration unit for the workshop. Can you recommend a decent one that wont break the bank? I'm just working in a double garage workspace, but there is often plenty of dust after sanding... i can see airborne dust under the lights- hoping to fix that!

#%! Thanks Steve

This looks like a fantastic method. Any idea what the setup would cost?