Search found 4738 matches

by Allen
Sun May 03, 2020 6:40 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Best way to repair bent sides?
Replies: 10
Views: 11584

Re: Best way to repair bent sides?

If your sides are the same depth at tall block and neck then your uke is going to look pretty strange. They should taper in body depth from deepest at tail block to the neck. I use 10mm between the two on all sizes of my ukes. Pretty easy to achieve this by using a small plane and pare away excess f...
by Allen
Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:32 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New guinea rosewood finger board and bridge
Replies: 7
Views: 16441

Re: New guinea rosewood finger board and bridge

Makes very nice bodies and necks, but I'd never entertain the idea to use it as a fret board on a steel string guitar.
by Allen
Tue Apr 28, 2020 4:14 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Guitalele in Ambrosia Maple and Torrified Sitka
Replies: 2
Views: 4645

Guitalele in Ambrosia Maple and Torrified Sitka

First time using Torrified Spruce. Was lucky enough to get 6 ukulele soundboards all with Bear Claw figure. Interesting to work with. Has a distinct caramel odour to it. No issues glueing, sanding or finishing. The back and sides are Ambrosia Maple with Australian Blackwood bindings. The rosette mad...
by Allen
Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:30 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Nozzle Size HVLP
Replies: 9
Views: 15471

Re: Nozzle Size HVLP

I'm not familiar with the Fuji system, but if it's one that the air is warmed by the turbine as in others that I've used, then my very first thought would be that the solvents will be evaporating before the product (nitro in this case) gets on the surface and will be too viscous to flow. Thinning mo...
by Allen
Thu Apr 23, 2020 4:30 pm
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Cutting side profile
Replies: 6
Views: 17615

Re: Cutting side profile

It's fairly easy to get the waist in the right spot even hand bending. Give yourself some extra lenght at both the butt and neck blocks and mark your waist in the same spot on both sides. It's also a good idea to indicate the inside and the edge that will be to the soundboard. It's easy to get those...
by Allen
Thu Apr 23, 2020 3:07 pm
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Cutting side profile
Replies: 6
Views: 17615

Re: Cutting side profile

Something like that.

My template is exact and pencil it to the straight sides then I cut just to the outside of the line. Then bend, glue in blocks and then final profile in the radius dish which takes just a few seconds with my set up.
by Allen
Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:26 am
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Cutting side profile
Replies: 6
Views: 17615

Re: Cutting side profile

I would cut them some or use a block plane to remove some of the material before going to the radius dish.

I have perspex side templates for all the instruments I make that leaves almost bugger all to remove in the radius dish.
by Allen
Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:30 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Concert Uke with Orchid Inlay
Replies: 3
Views: 5644

Re: Concert Uke with Orchid Inlay

Pretty easy to grow orchids when you live in Cairns. The challenging one has been our Vanilla that has to be hand pollinated just the right way early in the morning. Second year now that we'll have a crop that takes 8 - 10 months to be ready.
by Allen
Mon Apr 20, 2020 3:33 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Concert Uke with Orchid Inlay
Replies: 3
Views: 5644

Concert Uke with Orchid Inlay

Some of the nicest Australian Blackwood that I've had the pleasure to use. The bindings are sap wood from the same flitch. The inlay is Faux Ivory that I've added scrimshaw shading and then further colored with a translucent mauve to color match an orchid growning in our yard. Blackwood Concert with...
by Allen
Thu Apr 02, 2020 3:56 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Honduran Rosewood Baritone
Replies: 5
Views: 14232

Honduran Rosewood Baritone

I love working with Honduran Rosewood. It rings like a brass bell when you tap it. And curly Jarrah is a perfect low key/classy combo for bindings. This is a 20" scale length with a compound radius fret board and tuned to DGBE. Rubner machine heads and a K&K Aloha Twin pickup. Finished in high gloss...
by Allen
Wed Apr 01, 2020 7:49 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Building a Baritone Uke
Replies: 14
Views: 17402

Re: Building a Baritone Uke

Western Red Cedar is indeed soft but makes a great soundboard on nylon strung instruments.

Yellow Cedar is a bit harder and also makes a great soundboard. I've used both for clients.
by Allen
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:44 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Perfect Coat for pore filling
Replies: 1
Views: 3296

Re: Perfect Coat for pore filling

No, and I'd never use it for that purpose. This is to flow out a resin that would be like a bar top finish. You do not want any epoxy left on the surface. Only in the pores.
by Allen
Mon Mar 30, 2020 7:42 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Building a Baritone Uke
Replies: 14
Views: 17402

Re: Building a Baritone Uke

It would be years ago that I think it was Robbie O'Brien showed a jig that clamped some brace wood that he would "spring" the brace into and pinch tight into the desired radius. Then it was a plane or flat piece of sandpaper on a board that would remove material so when released you had a radius on ...
by Allen
Tue Feb 04, 2020 7:48 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Stain on soundboard
Replies: 11
Views: 14464

Re: Stain on soundboard

Doesn't look like you had to be too agressive. Has it gone into the spruce, or is it more just in the finish?
by Allen
Sun Jan 26, 2020 4:45 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 'Milling' with a drill press
Replies: 7
Views: 9725

Re: 'Milling' with a drill press

You'd be better off buying a small milling machine if that is what you plan on using it for. I have a full size knee mill that is a kick ass drill, as well as full on milling anything from timber to steel. Works a treat for thicknessing bone for nuts and saddles.
by Allen
Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:38 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Qualities of Spruce
Replies: 18
Views: 28415

Re: Qualities of Spruce

All work well for either steel or nylon strings. But for my money on a classical my first pick would be Swiss Spruce or Lutz.
by Allen
Sat Jan 11, 2020 7:41 am
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video
Replies: 13
Views: 42240

Re: Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video

I switched to BoatCoat several years ago and would never go back to WEST Systems. For the first application I use their TPRDA thinning additive that really allows the resin to penetrate into the timber and get to the bottom of the pores. As I'm always building more than one instrument at a time, I w...
by Allen
Fri Jan 03, 2020 2:43 pm
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video
Replies: 13
Views: 42240

Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video

A new video I shot to demo using epoxy resin filling a mahogany baritone ukulele. Some might find it useful.


youtu.be/f1zt0g7oYXM
by Allen
Mon Dec 23, 2019 6:57 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: The News Tonight
Replies: 9
Views: 20780

Re: The News Tonight

Weather couldn't be finer up in Cairns. Low 20's overnight to low 30's during the day and gentle occasional showers.
by Allen
Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:30 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Last instrument for 2019
Replies: 2
Views: 6777

Last instrument for 2019

I'll be shipping this one out next week for a client in Sweeden. Australian Blackwood with Yellow Cedar soundboard. Ebony fret boards, bridge and head plate veneers. SuppleJack bindings. Sap wood from an offcut of the back, and burl from some local tree that I have no idea what it is, but the color ...
by Allen
Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:08 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bulloak
Replies: 8
Views: 14678

Re: Bulloak

I've used it for bindings at 0.070" and 5 mm tall. Don't recal it being a problem but the edges are extrememly sharp until rounded over. You could easily cut yourself on them.
by Allen
Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:43 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: fretboard radiusing router bits
Replies: 18
Views: 22671

Re: fretboard radiusing router bits

I use the CNC to built the entire compount radius board, including purfling lines, inlays and stopped fret slots. And go about other things while that is happening. :D
by Allen
Sat Nov 09, 2019 5:34 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Acoustic Bridge Types ...
Replies: 9
Views: 9108

Re: Acoustic Bridge Types ...

Can't say you'd ever be able to determine a difference in sound. I far prefer the string through bridge. Can be with bridge pins or without. I like without. Nice clean look and it's actually dead easy to restring. But it's surprising how some people are confused by the process. I've had a few music ...
by Allen
Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:04 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Concert Uke with Scrimshaw Inlay
Replies: 4
Views: 10202

Re: Concert Uke with Scrimshaw Inlay

asgilbert wrote:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:49 pm
Wow, Piece of Art. Great job... Do people play these? I'd be worried about scratching it!!
Yes, as far as I'm aware they are played. I build them first and formost to be a great sounding and playing iinstrument.
by Allen
Sun Oct 20, 2019 1:09 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Concert Uke with Scrimshaw Inlay
Replies: 4
Views: 10202

Concert Uke with Scrimshaw Inlay

Blackwood and Yellow cedar with ebony. Faux Ivory with Scrimshaw shading. Blackwood and Yellow Cedar Concert - 1.jpg Blackwood and Yellow Cedar Concert - 2.jpg Blackwood and Yellow Cedar Concert - 3.jpg Blackwood and Yellow Cedar Concert - 4.jpg Blackwood and Yellow Cedar Concert - 5.jpg Blackwood a...