Thread: Acoustic build no 1

here are the pictures that should have been on the last post. Rob

Wow, that looks great Rob, can't wait to see the finished guitar!

Still struggling with the back binding on mine, need another break from it to take stock.

Rob, The guitar is looking awesome, especially like the way you did the end, little things like that can sure add alot. Glad the bending method worked for you, I was trying to bend curly maple bindings with heat only and they kept breaking. Figured adding a bit of water to the mix to make some steam would do the trick, have'nt broke one since. I hope I'll be able to see your guitar, but probably not. Gonna need to cancel my internet service soon, barring a miracle. Gone broke trying to make a living at building guitars and suffered a terrible mishap a couple days ago. Had my acoustic slip out of my hand after a polishing session, should have spirited off the oil first, tried to catch it and made things worse, ending up against the steel rail of my table saw fence. Completely destroyed, still sick about it and no funds to start another. Good luck on your build, I know it's gonna be a great guitar.Mike

Thats a real sweet build Rob but I think you'll have to stop right there cause you look like you're having way too much fun, gleefulness and joyfulness is just not on .

Nice work mate, I like it.

regards

Wal

Originally Posted by Heartstrings

Rob, The guitar is looking awesome, especially like the way you did the end, little things like that can sure add alot. Glad the bending method worked for you, I was trying to bend curly maple bindings with heat only and they kept breaking. Figured adding a bit of water to the mix to make some steam would do the trick, have'nt broke one since. I hope I'll be able to see your guitar, but probably not. Gonna need to cancel my internet service soon, barring a miracle. Gone broke trying to make a living at building guitars and suffered a terrible mishap a couple days ago. Had my acoustic slip out of my hand after a polishing session, should have spirited off the oil first, tried to catch it and made things worse, ending up against the steel rail of my table saw fence. Completely destroyed, still sick about it and no funds to start another. Good luck on your build, I know it's gonna be a great guitar.Mike

Terrible news Mike.

I hope better times are not too far away.

Originally Posted by walcen

Thats a real sweet build Rob but I think you'll have to stop right there cause you look like you're having way too much fun, gleefulness and joyfulness is just not on .

Nice work mate, I like it.

regards

Wal

Ha Ha ,thanks Wal but I cant stop it , it just has to be done cheers Rob

[QUOTE=Heartstrings;1243604]. Gonna need to cancel my internet service soon, barring a miracle. Gone broke trying to make a living at building guitars and suffered a terrible mishap a couple days ago. Had my acoustic slip out of my hand after a polishing session, should have spirited off the oil first, tried to catch it and made things worse, ending up against the steel rail of my table saw fence. Completely destroyed, still sick about it and no funds to start another.

Real sorry to hear this news Mike,we hear that things have been tough in the US ,I hope things pick up for you soon and we don't loose you here,Bad luck about the guitar,at least you have the skills to start another, I hope to see again soon ,
regards Rob

[quote=auscab;1243938]

Originally Posted by Heartstrings

. Gonna need to cancel my internet service soon, barring a miracle. Gone broke trying to make a living at building guitars and suffered a terrible mishap a couple days ago. Had my acoustic slip out of my hand after a polishing session, should have spirited off the oil first, tried to catch it and made things worse, ending up against the steel rail of my table saw fence. Completely destroyed, still sick about it and no funds to start another.

Dont give up on it mate, if its only one side thats had a whack you might be able to either reconstruct the damaged area (possibly even inlay a pearl &/or veneer over the worst of it),,,, Or if worst comes to worst, eventually replace the whole soundboard.
That is a bit of work, but its not impossible, and you learn new tricks every time you have to deal with "problems".
Concider it God/the universe/the great purple turnip testing your tenasity and endurance!
Im sure God/the universe/the great purple turnip has it in for me or is trying to make something solid of me, cause im facing that sort of crap on a regular basis,,,,, your not alone dude!!!

Started the binding by scarf joining the binding with loctite,clamped one down and pressed the other in, did not know if it would work duing the bend, but it did, just kept the heat gun away from it

Attachment 154844 Attachment 154845

Started by glueing the first 30mm with tape, then heat gun to about 150 mm ,bend, then glue and tape, hairy stuff

Attachment 154840 Attachment 154841

After the first bend then the waist, I felt things were going well, so I started adding glue then heat, bend and tape

Attachment 154842 Attachment 154843

Then I noticed the binding wanted to kick out 1mm, just after the first bend in the upper bout, had to clamp the first side then take off and re clamp when I got to the same spot on the other side. then cut and fit the top and bottom end ,a bit of a fiddle,this went ok on the back and ok on the top but not 100 %

Attachment 154846

The last two pictures are with tape and glue off, My camera seems to make the sound hole oval and the body squat and these pictures look a bit wierd to me ,

cheers Rob

Looks like the binding and purfs went on ok there Rob...looking good.

When I do my binding jobs I usually start at the waist and then work out towards each end of the instrument. I do the scarf joint(s) last...I stick a cabinet scraper between the binding and the butt or heel of the instrument and cut the binding with a very sharp chisel. By watching the reflection of the binding on the back of the chisel you can get the scarf angle correct.

Thanks for the tips there Martin, ,the scarf join is where I joined the binding to make it long enough to do from the heel to the butt in one length,so the join ended up around the lower bout and at the butt and heel I did a butt join, I like the bit about the reflection, will try it

The clean up with the scraper and a sand with 240

Fantastic pics Rob, especially those scraper shavings!

Did you really bend the bindings with a heat gun whilst gluing it up? Why not just shape the binding first then glue it up?

That is really sweet Rob, I'm living in the wrong country, you fellows have fantastic woods to work with. Makes the domestic stuff here in Ohio look medicore. I'll be able to follow along thru December at least before I might have to axe my service. Thanks to everyones encouragement, after brooding for a few days I've dusted myself off and ready to have another go.What's that saying? If life gives you lemons make lemonade, might have to start bottling lemonade instead of building guitars.