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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Strathalbyn South Australia
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    Default More ukuleles on the bench

    Following the success of my previous build, I have three more ukuleles on the bench. Two Camphor Laurel (one I started with the previous build) and a Blackwood one. I really like the look of the Blackwood in this, it’s a bit of timber I milled some time ago. The Blackwood was much easier to bend than the Camphor, no splits in the timber at all and it was happy to bend where I wanted it to. I still have a few tweaks to do on the sides but it is mostly done. I have one neck blank which is from the same piece that I made the previous ukulele from, it is Claret Ash and Tasmanian Myrtle. I am still deciding on what the other two will be, I will definitely use the Claret Ash again but may include some Silky Oak through it too.




    I have a bit of King Billy pine that I have created kerfing from and will use it for bracing also.

    I still haven’t decided on what to use for binding. I recently received some WA She Oak from Dusteater that I will be using for fretboards, it has some lovely figure in it.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    Gold Coast
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    Default

    Gee Cal.

    How terrific. Even though this forum does not have a lot of traffic, it has a lot of knowledge. I get confused a lot of the time, but hopefully you guys will get me through that.

    One question, if I may. How did you get that wood down to that dimension before bending it. I know you have built an Electronic Wood bender, but the pre steps you took are interesting.

    Pete

  4. #3
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    Default

    With a variety of tools, I took the timber from felled tree to 2mm using a chainsaw mill to 50mm boards, then bandsaw to 5mm then thicknesser to 3mm and an adhoc addition to my belt sander to turn it into a thicknesser to get it to 2mm.

    The big one!



  5. #4
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    Dec 2007
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    Gold Coast
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    Thanks for that Cal.

    It is an impressive set up. The fact that you used a variety of weapons to get down to the desired thickness helps me a lot. I was looking at an easier method jf their was one even though I suspected all along that their is not going to be too many short cuts to this Ukulele build.

    At least now I am closing in on my desired method of attack with the equipment I have available.

    Pete

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
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    Great work as usual Cal.
    I really need to do something about a thickness sander myself. Have a couple of ideas and options but that to do list never seems to get any shorter.
    Regards
    John

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Thanks John. Yes the final thickness is a bit of an issue to overcome with little cash, I have looked into making one but that is also an issue of time. I think I just need to save up and buy one eventually, it’s on the list! The way I do it currently has its issues, due to having to use double sided tape to stick the boards onto a piece of MDF to run it through then get the sticky off and flip the boards and do the same again (the end of the drum is vertical). The residue from the tape sometimes stays on the boards then I have to use metho to get that off. It’s a slow process. It’s also not very easy to get an accurate depth, and I am limited to 150mm so I cannot joint the book match boards prior to final thickness. It’s doing the job, but it’s painful too!

  8. #7
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    blue mountains
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    I know what you mean Cal. A wide drum sander would make this luthery thing a whole lot more simple but for the amount of use I dont think I can justify the cost or the space at the moment.
    Regards
    John

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Strathalbyn South Australia
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    Have yet to get back in the shed due to work, hot weather, Christmas and family life [emoji16]
    I just started an Instagram page if anyone is interested in following it #bluewrenukulele
    Will get back in the shed in due course.
    Cheers Cal

  10. #9
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    Feb 2007
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    blue mountains
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    Know what you mean about the weather. Shed is like an oven. Even been thinking about a small AC unit.
    Regards
    John

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
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    Yep, ac would be great. May need to start a go fund me page to tick a few things off the list [emoji848][emoji23]

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
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    Very impressive work, love the shape of the body, especially that bend in the upper bout.. yet to experience a camphour laurel bend but blackwood sure is great and somewhat forgiving.

  13. #12
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    Thanks, I have another build thread on here with a finished one out of Camphor Laurel, it come together well and sounds great. It certainly didn’t want to bend like the Blackwood, but it did bend ok. It has been too hot here in South Aus to get back in the shed to continue with these, I’m getting a bit over the heat too as I work outside. Hoping to get back to this lot over the weekend.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Warragul Vic
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    It is wonderful to see your methods, your tools and workshop Cal. Its so typical of musical instrument makers who I like to work with even though their demands for quality are often hard to meet. Thanks for showing us (& me) the final result too, a beautiful gift for your daughter. Well done .. love your "style". Hope the W Pear meets your needs.

    Cheers Euge

  15. #14
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    Feb 2015
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    Thanks Eugene!
    Well I managed a little shed time this weekend, didn’t get very far. Managed to get the Blackwood sides together after a little more time on the bending iron. King Billy pine kerfing bent very nicely to the desired shape via the bending iron too. I will make a little fill from King Billy for the cut out side of the upper bout for the soundboard and back to attach to as well. The top side has been flattened and the back side has had the taper added (60mm to 54mm tail to neck joint) will sand on radius dish prior to shaping back braces and gluing the back on. Will do the kerfing for the Camphor Laurel one next time I’m in the shed. I am also going to make a tenor ukulele for the heart shaped soundboard instead of making it a baritone. This has come about due to realising I don’t have enough Camphor Laurel to make up two baritones (soundboard and backs) but enough to make a tenor.




  16. #15
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    Feb 2015
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    Have done a bit more work on the Blackwood uke today, cleaned up any glue that remained after the kerfing was installed. A bit of scraping and then a light sand. I then added some backing strips for addition of the preamp and battery/input jack. I then gave the inside two light coats of shellac to seal it up, I feel that sealing the inside reduces the intake of moisture and creates a more stable instrument long term.






    The Camphor uke had is top surface flattened and received its kerfing.




    It is now too hot for me to continue (not a fan of the heat at all), will continue early tomorrow morning.

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