
Search found 832 matches
- Sat Sep 26, 2015 12:31 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Is there any real need to chop down trees anymore?
- Replies: 7
- Views: 5165
Re: Is there any real need to chop down trees anymore?
Hmmm, I wonder how long between fret jobs? Possibly like never. "Oh, and could you put a bit of relief in the neck please?" 

- Mon Jun 22, 2015 10:58 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Carbatec Drum Sander
- Replies: 35
- Views: 22256
Re: Carbatec Drum Sander
Hi Ken, yep I've experienced the problems you talk of. Two things I did/do is to apply a spot of contact adhesive of the right hand side [this side seems to be the problem side for me] or fold the end of the paper over making it thicker and increasing the holding power of the spring clamp on the R/H...
- Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:59 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Thinning boards
- Replies: 33
- Views: 22436
Re: Thinning boards
HI, pity you are so far away I sill have the drum, bearings and motor from my old shop built sanding thicknesser you could have. I think I used it for about ten years before I updated.
- Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:45 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Old French Bass full Restoration
- Replies: 237
- Views: 112298
Re: Old French Bass full Restoration
Hi Matthew, great work. I just viewed this thread for the first time this morning, just doing a slide show of your photos and comments and really enjoyed it. I've repaired a few basses and cellos over the years, mostly those used by the education system, so I can appreciate the dramas associated wit...
- Tue Nov 11, 2014 9:02 am
- Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
- Topic: The way I do it: Neck carving
- Replies: 13
- Views: 18035
- Mon Nov 10, 2014 3:31 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Myth or fact?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 5610
Re: Myth or fact?
I think I'd sooner repair a solid back or side than a laminated one, I find the solid timber easier work with. Many years ago I had a top shelf Maton acoustic, late 1970s but the solid back kept splitting. After sending it back a few times it was returned with the note that they had devised a new ba...
- Thu Sep 25, 2014 7:27 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Sapele Parlour Guitar
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7718
Re: Sapele Parlour Guitar
Nice guitar Allen, very neat. I always liked the Art Deco look of those tuners, but found them very heavy, but then looking at the back I can see they have been lightend with the exposed gears.
- Tue Sep 16, 2014 7:12 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: which mirotone?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 9251
Re: which mirotone?
Yep, as Allen said. I've used Botacoat and 3220 [always used 3220] on my last few guitars and I'm very happy with it. Thanks for the other info Allen. My "Queen of Hearts" guitar was on display at the Townsville Museum for three months recently, and I was worried about how the finish would go being ...
- Thu Sep 04, 2014 8:31 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Sometimes by hand is better
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6479
Re: Sometimes by hand is better
Looks like a time to blame the computer, maybe a rival builder or timber supplier hacked into it,
I'll stick to my bandsaw or router
Reminds me of the sign I have in my workshop "In the Middle of Every Difficulty Lies Opportunity".
Cheers


Reminds me of the sign I have in my workshop "In the Middle of Every Difficulty Lies Opportunity".
Cheers
- Fri Aug 15, 2014 11:26 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: "The Queen of Hearts"
- Replies: 16
- Views: 10484
Re: "The Queen of Hearts"
Thanks Jean, the guitar has been on display in the Townsville Museum for the last 2-3 months, I'm looking forward to picking it up this coming Monday, and to see how it came through it's stay in its glass case. It's a nice sounding guitar so I'm looking forward to playing it again also.
- Thu Aug 07, 2014 9:29 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Bit of a windfall, I think?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3301
Re: Bit of a windfall, I think?
Nice Markus
. Actually each blank is for two bridges so could be used for Uke or mandolin finger boards

- Thu Aug 07, 2014 1:52 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Bit of a windfall, I think?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3301
Bit of a windfall, I think?
Hi Guy's I was browsing through the lists of some Australian suppliers and found listed in the timber section Australian Cooktown Ironwood bridge blanks, at nearly $20.00 each plus freight. I already have some [but cant remember how I came by it] so went out to the workshop to see how much I had. I ...
- Mon Aug 04, 2014 8:10 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Side splitting advice
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2893
Re: Side splitting advice
Hi, yes I'm with Martin on this one. If you make a thin veneer out of the same side timber and can match the grain [even better] and feather it down around the edges.
Good luck.
Good luck.
- Sun Jul 27, 2014 3:36 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Bridge Binding...
- Replies: 10
- Views: 6576
Re: Bridge Binding...
Hi Nick, great idea and it looks real neat. I had a similar idea some time ago when a bridge I was designing worked out too thin so I glued some maple on the bottom and shaped the bridge down to it. I haven't used it yet, yours looks more classy.
- Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:24 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Dust collection
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2755
Re: Dust collection
I showed part of mine the other week. Each machine gets full suck from the unit as its the only one on line, with all the others shut off when not in use.
My bandsaw has a small unit of its own. Machines have their own lights too, so only one is on at a time.
My bandsaw has a small unit of its own. Machines have their own lights too, so only one is on at a time.
- Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:16 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Little Shocker
- Replies: 18
- Views: 9722
Re: Little Shocker
I got two big shocks off of our stainless draining board at the kitchen sink, and I wasn't even holding a guitar.
Must be the weather.

- Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:29 pm
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Lounge Guitar
- Replies: 24
- Views: 14653
Re: Lounge Guitar
Nice little guitar Jim, I planted five African Mahoganies and only one took off and it's having a battle to grow, I wondered what the grain/figure looked like.
- Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:06 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Get Well Soon Steve Roberts
- Replies: 13
- Views: 7177
Re: Get Well Soon Steve Roberts
I feel for you Steve I hope you mend well enough to keep doing what you do.
- Tue Jul 01, 2014 7:05 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Another Router Blooper
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7235
Re: Another Router Blooper
I have a Makita router that I have mounted as a overhead pin router, must have had it since the early eighties, and it will not hold the 1/4" or metric shaft bits any more, they slide down. The 1/2" - 12mm bits are fine [uses no collet] Iv'e done all sorts of cleaning and even contacting Makita but ...
- Mon Jun 30, 2014 11:23 am
- Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
- Topic: Dust or no dust....that is the question.
- Replies: 1
- Views: 6375
Dust or no dust....that is the question.
I took time out to clean out the machine workshop this week and I was surprised how much dust {after quite a few years] had accumulated, even the spiders had trouble getting across their webs for the dust that had settled on them. This was going to be a man clean, but my wife offered to help so it t...
- Mon Jun 30, 2014 7:56 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Another Router Blooper
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7235
Re: Another Router Blooper
Hi Matt, no just saving my brace wood, I did not want to cut into the good stuff for this brace and thought I'd do something different to get what I wanted.
I nearly got a bigger sound hole, if had not noticed the change in depth.
I nearly got a bigger sound hole, if had not noticed the change in depth.

- Sun Jun 29, 2014 7:24 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Another Router Blooper
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7235
Another Router Blooper
This happened last week, lucky I notice the sound of the router change as the bit slipped down, and lucky it happened where it did.
- Sun Jun 29, 2014 7:11 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Help the router slipped.
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6502
Re: Help the router slipped.
Great, I always found that an "accident" is the mother of creativity. I have a sign in my shop that says
"In The Middle of Every Difficulty Lies Opportunity". Over the years I have used inlays creatively in many instances for this very reason.
Good fix. I have a router blooper to show too.
"In The Middle of Every Difficulty Lies Opportunity". Over the years I have used inlays creatively in many instances for this very reason.
Good fix. I have a router blooper to show too.

- Thu Jun 26, 2014 1:44 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Finally finished my first OM
- Replies: 7
- Views: 5177
Re: Finally finished my first OM
Hi Eric, I missed this one too. Guitar looks ok to me, especially for a first one. It looks better than my first guitar build, and my first mandolin was a joke.I wouldn't post either on here. I wouldn't worry about response from the forum (as you mentioned the lack of response my have took some of t...
- Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:46 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Luthier Visits
- Replies: 16
- Views: 8801