Search found 1226 matches

by sebastiaan56
Sun Apr 10, 2022 10:04 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: German style mandolin WIP
Replies: 4
Views: 3050

Re: German style mandolin WIP

Sorry, double post….
by sebastiaan56
Sun Apr 10, 2022 9:29 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: German style mandolin WIP
Replies: 4
Views: 3050

Re: German style mandolin WIP

Here is the inside of the bowl. I lined it as there were still a few small gaps between the staves. The block is massive and will get the tip trimmed off. The neck will be a mortise and tenon affair with some rounding to get it all to fit. The blocks are Paulownia, which is an underrated tonewood IM...
by sebastiaan56
Sat Apr 09, 2022 6:16 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: German style mandolin WIP
Replies: 4
Views: 3050

German style mandolin WIP

From Alfred Woll’s plans. The timber was sold to me as Daran, an outback Acacia.. About two and a bit months to get to this point. A lick of pore filler to bring out the colour,
by sebastiaan56
Tue Jan 25, 2022 8:34 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: This will wind a few up….
Replies: 7
Views: 7697

This will wind a few up….

I’m not really surprised by the results of the experiments. The results will wind a few up…

[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n02tImce3AE[/youtube]
by sebastiaan56
Tue Jan 25, 2022 1:49 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Left Brain Lutherie Book
Replies: 6
Views: 4837

Re: Left Brain Lutherie Book

I have a copy to part with. PM on its way
by sebastiaan56
Mon Nov 29, 2021 8:10 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Wife's permission
Replies: 3
Views: 3124

Re: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Wife's permission

I laughed Robbie,

so did my wife…..
by sebastiaan56
Sat Oct 23, 2021 10:48 am
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Bending Strap
Replies: 3
Views: 13117

Bending Strap

This is a “doh..” moment. Bending strap made from an old belt grinder belt. I’m more into fiddles nowadays and some of the corners can be tight, particularly with highly figured wood. Not an original idea I found it on Maestronet but still…. doh…
7166ED77-2138-4C01-8660-A6A1BEFCC5A7.jpeg
by sebastiaan56
Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:16 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Craig Lavin video
Replies: 1
Views: 3003

Craig Lavin video

Ive been in awe of Craig’s work for years. He is a mater of inlay. Stewmac have commissioned him to make videos. I learnt a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly0yUvK_Qlw
by sebastiaan56
Sat Sep 18, 2021 7:46 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Inside mould
Replies: 5
Views: 6506

Re: Inside mould

I’m on fiddle No 9 and have a bit of experience with inside moods now. The biggest issue is spring back. This is resolved by keeping the sides thin, 1.2mm for a fiddle. How that would work for a guitar is a good question.

FWIW French violins, the Mirecourt School, were built with outside molds.
by sebastiaan56
Sat Sep 18, 2021 6:39 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Robert Shine's Hard Shellac
Replies: 4
Views: 4450

Re: Robert Shine's Hard Shellac

I just ordered off Restorers in Gosford. Post is pretty ordinary at the moment so we will see how long it takes. They sell hardening additive as well.
by sebastiaan56
Sat May 29, 2021 7:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Pore filling methods question (non-epoxy preferred)
Replies: 19
Views: 13648

Re: Pore filling methods question (non-epoxy preferred)

Ive not used lacquer Bob, only shellac or Tru Oil. Both have been fine. I do sand back to timber.
by sebastiaan56
Thu May 13, 2021 7:40 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: recommendation for hard shellac alternative?
Replies: 9
Views: 8023

Re: recommendation for hard shellac alternative?

There are a number of recipes floating around that use additives to the shellac to achieve the same durability as Hard Shellac. Specifically additions of Mastic and Sandarac. DelCamp forum has a few recipes. They work well.
by sebastiaan56
Fri Apr 16, 2021 7:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Paulownia Acoustic Top
Replies: 10
Views: 8249

Re: Paulownia Acoustic Top

I built a fiddle using Paulownia for the top. It was certainly loud enough and very responsive. It will work well for flat top instruments but yes the work on thickness and bracing needs to be done. There are a number of challenges with the material. The first is the appearance. I had to pore fill t...
by sebastiaan56
Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:37 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Pore filling methods question (non-epoxy preferred)
Replies: 19
Views: 13648

Re: Pore filling methods question (non-epoxy preferred)

I got a bottle of Solarez UV pore filler. It takes about 30 seconds to go off in the sun. It does have a the typical UV varnish type smell but saves so much faffing around.
by sebastiaan56
Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:19 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Violins
Replies: 8
Views: 10028

Re: Violins

Do you get these weights consistently Graham? I had some Englemann from the defunct American supplier and it was light compared to the Sitka I have at the moment. What about Blackwood vs Maple? "The other important factor is the weight of the plates. H S Wake's violin building book is also a good st...
by sebastiaan56
Tue Jan 21, 2020 11:52 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Violins
Replies: 8
Views: 10028

Re: Violins

There are a number of pretty good sources online at the moment. In no particular order; - Making the Violin dot com Goes into tuning violin plates - How to build a Fiddle, video series by Jon Mangum, shows you his rig and explains his method. - Plate Tuning dot org, encyclopedic with a number of app...
by sebastiaan56
Fri Jan 17, 2020 7:59 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: new Flamenco
Replies: 7
Views: 14295

Re: new Flamenco

So pretty! Are they planetary pegs?
by sebastiaan56
Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:41 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: A Fiddle
Replies: 2
Views: 6247

Re: A Fiddle

Hi Richard, I think the work is pretty much the same for most instruments once you get you templates etc done. But getting the templates right is one of the big challenges. Detail work is detail work and that is what makes an outstanding instrument. One of the hardest bits is when you look at a real...
by sebastiaan56
Mon Jan 13, 2020 1:43 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: A Fiddle
Replies: 2
Views: 6247

A Fiddle

I havent posted for a while now but am still at it in my kitchen bench way. Ive been more interested in Violins recently and here is a fiddle i made at the end of 2019, Engleman Spruce with what I suspect id Hoop Pine for the body and neck. Appointments are Ebony, the finish is my favourite Tru Oil....
by sebastiaan56
Sat Mar 23, 2019 4:43 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: This made me chuckle
Replies: 1
Views: 8267

Re: This made me chuckle

That’s awesome!
by sebastiaan56
Thu Feb 14, 2019 12:56 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Attention all Lurkers
Replies: 85
Views: 547024

Re: Attention all Lurkers

Ive kind of changed direction in the last little while, A mandola in progress based on Cremonese Mandolin and a "I wonder if this could work mando". I'll take some nicer photos one day.
by sebastiaan56
Wed Nov 28, 2018 6:55 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Aquacote cross linked polyurethane?
Replies: 0
Views: 7463

Aquacote cross linked polyurethane?

Long time no visit, but still messing around and having fun. Has anyone used the cross linked Polyurethane from Boat Craft for finishing instruments? It seems to have a number of very nice features including an exceptional hardness and water clean up. Im a big fan of Bote Cote and the company seems ...
by sebastiaan56
Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:53 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: A banjo
Replies: 4
Views: 6097

Re: A banjo

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrlpFA5BbuU[/youtube]

Bela Fleck..... love the jo...
by sebastiaan56
Wed Feb 01, 2017 7:32 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Invercargill and Princes Love Child
Replies: 1
Views: 9753

Re: Invercargill and Princes Love Child

Not much happens down there does it?
by sebastiaan56
Wed Feb 01, 2017 7:31 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Show us your sled
Replies: 10
Views: 17494

Re: Show us your sled

Nice ride, a Virago but for city work it's da bomb. How Yamaha make a 250 sound like a 1000 Harley is beyond me. Bikes are like zoot, just one more....