Search found 414 matches

by vandenboom
Sun Aug 27, 2017 8:42 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Uke bridge
Replies: 7
Views: 9249

Re: Uke bridge

Yep - image corrupt. Got it this time.
20170827_084018.jpg
by vandenboom
Sat Aug 26, 2017 12:05 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Uke bridge
Replies: 7
Views: 9249

Re: Uke bridge

Can't drop the image file in for some reason???
Add the jpg as an attachment but it disappears after I submit. Any suggestions??
by vandenboom
Sat Aug 26, 2017 11:48 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Uke bridge
Replies: 7
Views: 9249

Uke bridge

The uke bridge in the pic is (Cooktown?) ironwood that I received with a uke kit a few years ago and I retain to copy. The scalloped ends appeared to have been done with machinery but I don't think I can do that on ironwood with a router. So I always do the ends by hand (chisels, scraper, sanding) b...
by vandenboom
Fri Aug 04, 2017 7:43 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Plane manufacturers
Replies: 30
Views: 39697

Re: Plane manufacturers

If money is an issue and you live in Melbourne, then consider the following used handtools sale sundays by HTPAA...

http://www.htpaa.org.au/events/tool-sales

I have picked up a dozen excellent tools from here in recent years - not necessarily cheap - but very fair
Frank
by vandenboom
Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:31 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: I'm retiring
Replies: 45
Views: 65198

Re: I'm retiring

Thanks bob. Have always been inspired by yr amazing range of skills, yr energy and generosity. All the best. Frank
by vandenboom
Sun Jun 11, 2017 6:04 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Titebond
Replies: 27
Views: 43022

Re: Titebond

Another supplier for Melbournites is Sandpaper Plus in Fairfield. They also stock West System products.
by vandenboom
Fri May 26, 2017 6:17 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Picking a Drum Sander
Replies: 18
Views: 22707

Re: Picking a Drum Sander

Hi all I have two. The open sided carbatec unit referred to above and a home made unit. I have a love hate rship with carbatec unit. Paper tearing, feed mat slipping, motor tripping out even for small increments. I like using it for narrower jobs like sides, fingerboards etc. I will do backs and top...
by vandenboom
Thu Nov 19, 2015 1:26 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Uke backs
Replies: 4
Views: 5457

Re: Uke backs

Thanks Gents.
Should have been aware of that. Assembled last Mar-Apr at approx 60-65% RH
Around 40-45% in the house over past week.
Will introduce a bit of lateral arch next time.
Frank
by vandenboom
Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:49 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Uke backs
Replies: 4
Views: 5457

Uke backs

Hi guys - not much activity in the shed over the past year for various life reasons but just finished 2 ukes that I started 15 months ago. Concert & Tenor. I used Hand Lima plans. The backs have an arch lengthwise and started out flat side to side. Backs and back braces were qtr sawn. I was surprise...
by vandenboom
Tue Aug 18, 2015 9:09 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Joke?
Replies: 4
Views: 5820

Re: Joke?

Another take on this...
..A plumber gets some $$ return on every tap, whereas a luthier....

Reminds me of the joke, what's the difference between a rock guitarist and a jazz guitarist?
One plays 3 chords to thousands of people whereas the other plays thousands of chords to 3 people!
Frank
by vandenboom
Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:26 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What to do?
Replies: 25
Views: 25713

Re: What to do?

The ding is right down the bottom end of the guitar and I doubt I will be able to get my hand far enough down through the sound hole to reach it which makes it tricky. How do you handle that situation? I place "out-of-reach cleats" with a clamp of the right length whose outer arm tip indicates the ...
by vandenboom
Sun Mar 01, 2015 9:43 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: In the interest of disclosure ...
Replies: 14
Views: 13880

Re: In the interest of disclosure ...

Sorry to read that Curly. Does that mean Jeremy was affected in the same way? So what's happening to all that massive stock of good timber out the back of Daylesford???????
Frank
by vandenboom
Sat Feb 28, 2015 9:17 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What to do?
Replies: 25
Views: 25713

Re: What to do?

This is the cracked top I was referring to earlier and which I raised in a separate post a couple of weeks ago. split top.jpg I have considered the various approaches discussed above. I tried Trevor's approach but cannot get enough up/down movement either side of the crack to get some titebond in th...
by vandenboom
Sun Feb 22, 2015 8:43 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What to do?
Replies: 25
Views: 25713

Re: What to do?

That's a tough one, Peter, but you're getting good advice. I've done numerous of those types of repairs. The degree of difficulty depends largely on how the finish responds to the heat and damp, but I've never used that finish - just shellac and nitro, which are pretty well behaved once you know ho...
by vandenboom
Fri Feb 13, 2015 9:15 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What to use to clearly mark dark brown wood???
Replies: 13
Views: 12795

Re: What to use to clearly mark dark brown wood???

Sometimes, I put a small bit of masking tape in the approx position and pencil mark that. eg. When marking out dark fingerboards, waist position when side bending, centre line on the back when the join is (hopefully) difficult to see.
by vandenboom
Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:41 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Split bridge & top
Replies: 10
Views: 13555

Re: Split bridge & top

Thanks everyone for your insights. It hadn't occurred to me that the bridge split is likely to have occurred because the bridge pins were forced in. That makes sense. When I cut the slots for a slotted bridge, I always do them quite precisely to handle 12-52's. It never occurred to me that someone m...
by vandenboom
Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:18 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Split bridge & top
Replies: 10
Views: 13555

Split bridge & top

Hi all Today I got my first return with a more serious problem. This is a steel string dreadnought I made/sold 4 years ago. A year after delivery,it came back with serious action problems as client had put on 13-56 guage after I had delivered it with 12-52's. I had never dealt with this heavier guag...
by vandenboom
Mon Jan 05, 2015 8:57 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mini dimensions
Replies: 10
Views: 10869

Re: Mini dimensions

Hi Wayne, I don't have "official" measurements, but I just got a nearly face-on pic of the Maton Mini and scaled off known dimensions (page 5 of the Maton catalogue: http://maton.com.au/assets/pdf/Maton_Catalogue_Acoustic.pdf) and got these numbers: upper bout width = 231mm top of body to centre of...
by vandenboom
Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:11 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Thinning boards
Replies: 33
Views: 38993

Re: Thinning boards

Well there you go Quinny, I live just down the street in Blackburn. You are welcome to drop by and use the drum sander.
I'll PM u my mobile.
Frank
by vandenboom
Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:54 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Thinning boards
Replies: 33
Views: 38993

Re: Thinning boards

Andrew
If you are prepared to declare where you live, someone in the area may be willing to offer use of their drum sander, as Bob suggested.
Frank
by vandenboom
Sat Sep 20, 2014 9:00 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Uke bracing
Replies: 3
Views: 4443

Uke bracing

Concert and tenor uke's on the way. Pretty much following the hana lima plans but always mindful of going light over heavy. (& not referring to frothies)
Their plans don't trim down the sides of the braces to reduce mass.
Should I?
Thanks. Frank.
bracing.jpg
bracing.jpg (130.21 KiB) Viewed 4443 times
tops.jpg
tops.jpg (124.83 KiB) Viewed 4443 times
backs.jpg
backs.jpg (111.8 KiB) Viewed 4443 times
by vandenboom
Thu Sep 11, 2014 4:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Perspex for fretboard templates
Replies: 7
Views: 7873

Re: Perspex for fretboard templates

I perspex is the same as polycarbonate, then yep, Bunnings.
by vandenboom
Tue Sep 09, 2014 10:20 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Anyone need a slash f neck
Replies: 5
Views: 5970

Re: Anyone need a slash f neck

if you don't mind me asking, what are the black pencil looking thingos in the centre block in your opening pic? Don't recognise them and am curious. Frank
by vandenboom
Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:14 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Piece holding techniques when hand planing
Replies: 18
Views: 20572

Re: Piece holding techniques when hand planing

Thanks Dave. I like that and do find it is interesting to see these 'old' techniques, as you say.
A question about the holes in the small wedges - I presume they are just to hang on something, or do they have some other purpose?