Search found 1080 matches

by matthew
Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:26 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Tassie double bass
Replies: 6
Views: 306

Re: Tassie double bass

How could i possibly describe it in a way that would make sense?

When the owner makes a video, ill post it.
by matthew
Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:10 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Tassie double bass
Replies: 6
Views: 306

Tassie double bass

Been a while since i posted a build here

King Billy top
Huon pine back, sides
cedar inlays
blackwood TP
by matthew
Fri Oct 02, 2020 5:11 pm
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Slow speed grinder
Replies: 2
Views: 13992

Re: Slow speed grinder

only $200 i think it was
by matthew
Fri Oct 02, 2020 4:34 pm
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: quick cyclone tub
Replies: 0
Views: 13895

quick cyclone tub

For some time I’ve put all my ozito shop vacs in a heavy ply box to reduce noise. I put a cyclone on top of this one in record time. the Cyclone is just a $40 one off eBay and the tub is one of those cardboard ones… Not sure what comes in them but you can get them at Reverse Garbage and places like ...
by matthew
Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:16 pm
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Slow speed grinder
Replies: 2
Views: 13992

Slow speed grinder

i just picked up a Sherwood slow speed grinder from Timbecon. I’ve been looking for one for ages. Very heavy unit but runs smooth and quiet at 1450 RPM. Two 8” aluminium oxide wheels on it. Works really great. you can hollow grind all the way without burning the steel. the excellent veritas tool res...
by matthew
Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:28 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: double bass responsive back bracing
Replies: 1
Views: 3075

double bass responsive back bracing

And just to prove i can still post on topic, here’s a picture of my latest double bass flat back bracing, under construction. The back and ribs are american walnut. Top is Englemann spruce. Neck and scroll is Tas Blackwood. 1D25254F-3015-4A80-8961-533012AD7A74.jpeg 677BD722-500C-45F4-B224-7E0324A14E...
by matthew
Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:22 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: glue lines
Replies: 0
Views: 5362

glue lines

Well, today i was chatting with a colleague in the US and dictating into my phone and happened to mention use of a common glue brand.

Autocorrect did it’s thing, quite hilariously we thought, and so i’ve rebranded my glue accordingly
C77C39C7-7F43-4B62-B2A6-1B79D4F7D7B4.jpeg
by matthew
Sun May 31, 2020 10:10 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: blackwood log
Replies: 1
Views: 3557

blackwood log

A friend has a blackwood log harvested from his property near Camden. Approx 8ft long and about 14" across.

Where/who could one get this rough sawn for drying in Sydney area?
by matthew
Sun Jan 26, 2020 7:35 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Stop Loss bags
Replies: 5
Views: 8683

Re: Stop Loss bags

I bought them direct from the states and they were shipped to me in oz. Didn’t seem too expensive. Lot 50 pounds for four seems a lot
by matthew
Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:08 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Stop Loss bags
Replies: 5
Views: 8683

Stop Loss bags

Just came across this product to stop oxidation and skinning if finished. Looks a terrific idea.
Anyone else using it?
20954C4D-6E32-4702-AFA1-16A44BB6A263.jpeg
by matthew
Wed Dec 04, 2019 2:27 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Wood Waste
Replies: 9
Views: 12372

Re: Wood Waste

I keep a big bin of sawdust next to my compost heap. With every kitchen bucket of wet scraps, i cover with a bucket of sawdust. And occasionally throw on a handful of urea pellets. It keeps the flies at bay and rots down very nicely. Yes I get that we are only very small fish in a very big sea. And ...
by matthew
Wed Dec 04, 2019 12:55 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Wood Waste
Replies: 9
Views: 12372

Re: Wood Waste

My reading matter for the holidays ...

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... _Australia
by matthew
Wed Dec 04, 2019 12:43 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Wood Waste
Replies: 9
Views: 12372

Re: Wood Waste

I'm not sure carbon is always a byproduct of bacterial or fungal decomposition ... this is why we compost green waste, to put carbon back into the soil ... i would have thought it remained a residue, unless oxidised (burnt) but who know, maybe you're right. And i guess if my mates don't burn my kind...
by matthew
Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:37 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Wood Waste
Replies: 9
Views: 12372

Wood Waste

Like most of you probably, i do accumulate a lot of wood waste, offcuts, dust, odd shaped pine, ply and MDF bits from jigs and frames ... and while i tend to hoard every last scrap of spruce, maple and so on for the many repairs and restorations i do, the wood bin just grows and grows. I put wood du...
by matthew
Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:34 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 50% Tonewood Sale in Bathurst
Replies: 0
Views: 8999

50% Tonewood Sale in Bathurst

Ondrej Simanski has a palette of good Carpathian spruce, poplar and maple tonewood at the conclusion of the Bow Makers and Luthiers conference at Bathurst. See the attached PDF. Cello tops and backs can be re-sawn for guitar top etc. If he doesn't sell by Friday evening, he's taking it back to Slova...
by matthew
Wed Jun 26, 2019 9:23 am
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: My dust collection system
Replies: 5
Views: 25323

Re: My dust collection system

i might add that the engine behind the system is the cheap ozito shop vac with power take off under $100. In a sturdy box to reduce noise. i have a power board running off it and any tool turned on will power the dust collector up.
by matthew
Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:42 am
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: My dust collection system
Replies: 5
Views: 25323

My dust collection system

You know one of the things i’m most proud of in my workshop is my humble dust collection system. This has now been in operation for three years and we have very little dust problem in the workspace which adjoins the showroom. I don’t remember if i posted this already but the system has had a few ref...
by matthew
Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:09 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New acquisition. Southern Silky Oak.
Replies: 8
Views: 14569

Re: New acquisition. Southern Silky Oak.

I can do a lot with 9 inches and above
by matthew
Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:29 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: French polishing
Replies: 30
Views: 34748

Re: French polishing

oil and kerosene i think not naphtha.

some use wd40 but i want to avoid oil residue
by matthew
Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:40 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: French polishing
Replies: 30
Views: 34748

Re: French polishing

This thread is a little old but i just read through and want to add that the main lubricant we use in the workshop here for cutting back and for French Polishing with hard shellac ... is kerosene. It behaves like a very light oil and evaporates slower than the alcohol so it is a good lubricant. But,...
by matthew
Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:38 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New acquisition. Southern Silky Oak.
Replies: 8
Views: 14569

Re: New acquisition. Southern Silky Oak.

I’m sure it would work as a neck wood. The only thing that would stop me using it is the look. Too much of a good thing on a instrument that’s already has a lot of figure. I would use a more plain wood and finish with a veneer headstock or grafted scroll if I was doing it. I’ve made three basses wit...
by matthew
Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:15 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Double bass back bracing
Replies: 0
Views: 8572

Double bass back bracing

Also, to prove that i'm still here and working, here's a pic of some "responsive" back bracing I did recently for a flatback double bass. There's a lot of interest in this style of bracing to combat shrinkage cracks in the large flat backs of basses. It performs a different function to Trevor's falc...
by matthew
Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Luthier Congress in Bathurst end July
Replies: 1
Views: 3857

Luthier Congress in Bathurst end July

I'm posting this here in case anyone is interested. There are some internationally respected violinmakers on faculty. https://alacongress.com/ Onrej Sima from Tonewood.sk will be attending and he is bringing a few pallets of maple, polpar and spruce for violin/viola/cello/bass etc. A lot of it is al...
by matthew
Tue Nov 20, 2018 7:38 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Double Bass Build
Replies: 14
Views: 17598

Re: Double Bass Build

you are probably well advanced by now but i’ll offer a few tips for next time We commonly use a slot cutter router bit to establish an even edge thickness by registering the router base at the back of the plate. purfling usually goes in after the arching is carved and the outline finalized on the ri...
by matthew
Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:08 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New GST rules
Replies: 25
Views: 30510

Re: New GST rules

well the prob with that is you cannot claim the tax unless you have a tax invoice from them...