Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Talk about musical instrument construction, setup and repair.

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by kiwigeo » Sun Mar 17, 2019 10:55 am

Pete there are time limits for edits (30mins) and post deletion (15mins). Unfortunately not well publicized. The reasons for this are complex but stem back to issues with a couple of now departed members a few years back.

Martin
Petecane wrote:
Sat Mar 16, 2019 11:49 pm
Hopefully this time.
Aghhhhh
Martin

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 17, 2019 3:47 pm

I'll get it one day!
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Mon Mar 18, 2019 9:10 pm

Here's my new mould.
Getting excited now.
Nothing new as Ken Timms has covered this.
Just wanted to show how I am getting on.
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Mon Mar 18, 2019 9:17 pm

Here is my new mould.
1552903911620872.jpg
Next step. Build the neck.
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Wed Mar 20, 2019 4:10 pm

Well...they say ( Mistakes!) Happen for a reason.
I had in my mind a nice roundy woman like curvy head stock.
I tried to design it so the strings would run in a straight line to the periphery of the pegs.
Completely blind to the fact that the pegs also have the other end on them apart from the immediate hole diameter I went ahead and built the head part of the neck first.
I thought I would just put the pegs through the peg shaper and then ream the holes out to fit.
BUGGER ! .

The peg heads fouled each other!
Thats what I get for trying to be smart.
Bit miffed about it but Gore / Gilet books say make two necks at a time.
I know their reasoning but in my case ....good job too!
( when you bugger it up).
And mate!...I buggered it good and proper so went to bed!
" Woke up the next morning"!!! La la la la Lahhhh.
A La Blues!
Designed a new head using the Martin peg head spacing.
Did a bit of Geometry wiv my French curves and compasses and came up with " Just the shape"
1553056649838818.jpg
I imagined in my mind!
So that is why the mistake ( Bugger up) happened.
So hopefully here are some pics of the ( Bugger up ) and of the new shape after a nights sleep.
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Wed Mar 20, 2019 4:29 pm

Sorry just getting used the photo bit.
The above image is what I had in mind but the shape just was not there....and the pegs fouled!.
Here is an image of the new shape non fouling pegs.
It is " This shape" that was in my mind.
Often we visualise something but cannot get it down on paper???
Now I have done due to the "Bugger up ".
Thank you my Australian Arch Angel Gabriel. ( based in Narangba Queensland) Cos it depends on where you are what angel you get!!!!
..who said ..." Mate!!!....thats a load of Horlix! "
" Thanks Australian Arch Angel " I said .
"No worries....I is but a humble Bush Whacker and is avin a go at the finite arts of cuttin the wood.
" No worries mate ! ..." and then he buggered off!!!
1553056650160875.jpg

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Wed Mar 20, 2019 5:33 pm

Today I strung up my second Soprano Uke.
When we string to pitch...be honest now!
Do we anticpate the bridge twanging off?
Well I did and fortunately it held!
I will leave it a week or so to bed in before giving it away to a friend.
It is very personal.
I have spent my time and money building it.
It gave me great pleasure.
I learnt as I built and will always learn. I find this forum invalueable . I have my limitations craftsmanshipwise but I hope to lift them.
I cannot yet measure up to the gorgeous creations you guys make but I like to think there is hope for me.

This is a wonderful way of life and I have made something that someone will love and cherish.
What I have built cannot measure to the beautiful instruments you luthiers on the forum build.
But I have to start somewhere and I also have my individual preferences.
I favour light construction. Super light. ( Kiwaya soprano ukes)
I fitted Gotoh mini tuners to the head at first and the whole head weighted down.
This is not good for the player.
The Mini Gotohs were of the black encased type.
Super machines but not for a soprano Uke.
Any way here is what I have done.
Pete
1553056651140592.jpg
1553056650865253.jpg

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Wed Mar 20, 2019 5:34 pm

Hopefully a top view?
1553056650698616.jpg
Pete
Thanks.

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Wed Mar 20, 2019 5:48 pm

The bridge needed to go to the right a few Millimetres!
I find bridge set up really hard.
I used a protactor from the 90 but still buggered it!
It plays nicely though.
Has a good bark although Cedar wood top.
Intonation bang on!.
My ear tells me in an instant if its wrong.
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by kiwigeo » Wed Mar 20, 2019 6:47 pm

Nice work Pete....making guitars and ukes is a bit like having a baby. A lot of grief and pain along the way but in the end it's all worth it.
Martin

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Joseph Jones » Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:38 pm

Love that back!😍

Regards Joseph
The stone is hard and the drop is small but a hole is made by the constant fall.

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Fri Mar 22, 2019 2:05 am

Thanks for your kind comments.
Yes I suppose it is like making a baby!..then it turns into something that plays a lot and eventually leaves us!
Other exciting news for me.
I have just splashed out $600 dollars on tools and wood.
I think I have spent wisely.
My bench top now instead of being a disgrace is nicely faced with 19mm beech so I stand a fighting chance of working on a flat surface. I love it and feel so priveleged.
Dont want to mark it!
I have also ordered a Japanese saw set, Japanese plane, Japanese scraper plane to work my back and sides as I do not have a drum sander and also cannot afford one or its dust!!!,
A waterstone set and two very sharp Japanese drills to work the peg holes.
I have watched you tubes about Japanese planing boards and am truly intrigued by their use.
I have a nice thick heavy piece of Jarrah so will make one tomorrow.
I am too old now to sit cross leggged on the floor as that is going to hurt.
I have seen a brilliant you tube of an instrument maker planing down a guitar side using a Jap plane and board.
Took him five minutes!
Their whole methods make so much sense.
Do any of you guys have Japanese tools?
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:47 pm

So it took two days not one but I am delighted with my Japanese style planing, scraping and sawing board.
Don't know how I managed without it.
It is a good heavy solid piece of kit which can be used on the floor or bench mounted.
I prefer the bench mount.
I am just starting to get used to the Japenese tools.
Well impressed.
I have tuned up the scraper plane which took a few hours and can now thickness two Uke sides quite accurately without using sand paper.
The blade in this thing is a monster and razor sharp now.
Here are some shots of the table in its various guises.
All the professionals amongst you of course have your own methods.
I am at the stage where I have to learn my own methods due to cash flow and tiny work space.
1553412469863373.jpg
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1553412468976877.jpg

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:48 pm

1553412468473977.jpg
Shooting mode.

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:49 pm

155341246964331.jpg

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:50 pm

1553412468729992.jpg
Scraping uke boards mode.

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 24, 2019 6:53 pm

Thats about it I guess

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by kiwigeo » Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:00 pm

Some nice kit there Pete. Those Japanese planes are a joy to use.
Martin

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:57 pm

Martin....Thanks.
I am on a new learning curve and well into it!
The Japanese planes need some setting up and nurturing.
I am still learning how to use them.
My blades are honed on only up to 3000.
I need a 6000 or 8000 waterstone to get shavings micro thin.
I am more than happy with what I have and need to master these first before deserving a master made blade and block.
I have tuned the large smoothing plane so that I could shave Tassy oak end grain. ( just to see if it would)..( and thena 30 mm thick piece of blue gum end grain) ...And it Did!!!!
I gobsmacked myself because you usually need a block plane for this after wetting the end grain.
This thing did it dry.
I am sold!
Thats why I was interested to know if anyone else uses Japanese tools?
I still have to learn what the best makes are as I do not know.
My planes are the cheaper versions but when set up correctly they are the business.
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by lamanoditrento » Mon Mar 25, 2019 12:25 am

Petecane wrote:
Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:57 pm
I gobsmacked myself because you usually need a block plane for this after wetting the end grain.
This thing did it dry.
I’ve never heard of wetting end grain. Can you expand on that a bit Pete?
Trent

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:00 am

If you have a really hard piece of wood and want to plane the end grain, by applying water to it wth a small paint brush it softens the wood at the end and makes planing it easier.
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Tue Mar 26, 2019 3:31 pm

Sorry...I am a bit chatty!
I have made a Uke version of the plates joining press from " The Books".
Gore has said that this device is an old luthiers trick.
I made mine from Tassie Oak.
I did a trial run using nylon cording.
It worked but there was a lot of slippage due to man made fibres....Nylon slips.
So I went to Millers and bought a roll of good old fashioned sisal string.
This stuff does not slip and is the business.. but looks a bit rough! .....well it IS rough which is why I used it....there is string and " String ".

Whoever thought up this device was a genius.
1 Air gets to dry the glue joint due to the open rack.
2 The sides are compressed together due to lateral pressure from the wedge driven through the figure of eight knot
3 The plates are held down by the wedges and the downward pressure of the figure of eight knots.
It is so simple and I love it to bits.
The pressure attained with this system is truly immense.
I needed a hammer to knock the wedges home.
I am truly wowed and glad I bought "The books!".
Pete
1553573220131842.jpg
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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Wed Mar 27, 2019 3:36 pm

I am too enthusiasticic .
Back to the cave ..best way !
Pete

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by Petecane » Sun Mar 31, 2019 3:16 pm

Guess what?..
It is 36 RH here right now so I have been belting along with the Nunes style Uke.
Well the head is not!..
I have seen this head design before and thought it would blend in with the skinny Uke shape.
I am going to see If I can thickness the back today and glue it on as RH is right.
It is such a small uke I am not going to bother with bracing. Hopefully then there will not be a splitting problem.
I found binding the neck to the mould easier and more friendly to the finished neck by binding it with strips of inner tube rubber rather than leave string indentations and wedge Mark's on the neck.
Back to the cave!
Pete
155400492400380.jpg

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Re: Bushwhacker Ukulele builds.

Post by seeaxe » Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:01 pm

Petecane wrote:
Wed Mar 27, 2019 3:36 pm
I am too enthusiasticic .
Back to the cave ..best way !
Pete
You cant be too enthusiastic Pete, its great to see someone get really excited about what they are doing.
Good luck with the build, not that you will need it its looking good.

I've got a japanese pull saw but not much else. They are pretty amazing.
Richard

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