Thread: Mando refit

So here it is, rough sanded to remove the finish Miniwax Wiping Poly and the stain. The stain has gone really deeply into the timber, I was a bit concerned about sanding right through the walls so I left the big ugly chisel dig marks as they were. Pre distressed?....

I also got rid of the white binding, looked awful once the finish started coming off.

Here it is in all its glory, sanded to 1200 then EEE'd. Looks like it doesnt need any more finishing, it gleams!

Changed the binding from white to black. Bought it form Darren at Gilet in Sydney, great service, straight as, and gave good advice as well. One thing I didnt like about the kit hardware is the tailpiece. Its pressed steel and the cover rattles loose every ten minutes or so of playing. Darren didnt sell me another one, well done. I'll go there again.

Binding also comes in different thicknesses Ive discovered. Meant I had to open the rebate in the soundboard. Not easy with a Dremel, cut through in a couple of places, good thing you cant see it Even then I didnt get the new binding quite flat in two places, oh well... CA was useless BTW, did it with 5 min epoxy.

Rounded off the head. That maple is hard! shows some figure, pity the photos dont,

Next steps are shape a new nut, this time out of bone not the supplied plastic, make a new bridge, probably out of NG Rosewood. Then some coats of White Shellac. Ill take recommendations here. I dont have a spray gun, I figure a fine brush and some gentle EEE and some wax will give a good finish.

Im sticking with the tuners and tailpiece supplied with the kit, this is for home and for the kids so Im not going to spend any more on the hardware. Ill save that for the F5 kit coming later this month.....

Im having trouble getting good detail photos, any clues out there? Kodak Easyshare LS573,

Will post further progress.

an ambitious 1st project....
well done so far
we all have battle scars on the first few projects.....i am still, after 6 projects trying to get through one without a blunder,,,,,most can be disguised or worked into a design change others....well... they are there forever.......i seen a few hanging on workshop walls as a constant reminder of a blunder that ruined a job....

if it plays sweetly you'll soon forget those blemishes and the kids wont care a fig

did you buy the A5 from the same place??
oh and i just use my mobile for posting pics

Originally Posted by old_picker

an ambitious 1st project....
well done so far
we all have battle scars on the first few projects.....i am still, after 6 projects trying to get through one without a blunder,,,,,most can be disguised or worked into a design change others....well... they are there forever.......i seen a few hanging on workshop walls as a constant reminder of a blunder that ruined a job....

if it plays sweetly you'll soon forget those blemishes and the kids wont care a fig

did you buy the A5 from the same place??
oh and i just use my mobile for posting pics

Thanks Ray,

In retrospect probably an overambitious first project but thats my style. It does play nicely, the tone is quite strong but not as sweet as a bowl back. The F style is coming from the same place but I think they are getting out of them as the F style was on special and not in the regular catalogue. I suspect that these kits are made from someone elses seconds, but I dont know.

Coated with Neil's white shellac now. A bit messy with the brush in places so a bit of wet & dry and some EEE will bring it up OK. Will post when it is cleaned up.

Sebastiaan

Sebastion have you considered using Neils hard shellac on the mando? PaulB has sprayed the stuff on spme of his guitars with success.

Cheers Martin