Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Usually you can heat Titebond and re-clamp, and it will re-stick, when you have a gap like that. As I recall, it is an "Only one time option" because after it's been heated once it won't work a second time. The same is true of LMI white. I have done it often to close small gaps in binding. What you ...

Something like over 50% of glue failures are due to a poor joint fit. If the Acetone didn't seal the top, then, is it possible that you had/have gaps in the fit between the bridge and top?

+2

Only if it was legally harvested!

A point on CITES. It really does not matter what certification you have, as once you start to change the shape or cut the wood, and make a guitar out of it, it's no longer valid certification. Some will argue with me, but the way it's written, no changes are allowed in the certified wood. You can le...

He'd be sprinkling glitter on them to check their Chladni patterns!

I'll let you know. I ordered one yesterday!

My greatest successes have been with a very dry pad. The body sessions go better and the glazing goes better. The only time I have a damp, not wet, pad is when I'm spiriting off after every body session. Glazing is a bit wetter than bodying, but there isn't much shellac in the mix, and no oil. When ...

I recommend the Teflon bearing upgrade. The difference is like night and day. Much smoother operation. However, all levels, are mechanically the same from cheapest to most expensive. The only differences, other than the Teflon are cosmetic.

Yeah, but your ears start to bleed at 8.

Wow, that's exactly the opposite of my experience. On my current build, After I started finishing, and had several coats on, I kept seeing little places that made me mad, where I hadn't prepped well enough. In more than one place I sanded back to wood, re-applied Tru-Oil and the places were invisibl...

Welcome, Alex. Nice to see you over here!

Lo and behold, when I came into my sun-warmed shed next morning, they had NOT sprung back; they had in fact increased the bend as they dried, even to the extent I’ll have to do a bit of straightening to get back to the template. Alastair Interesting! I had a similar experience with my Sycamore bend...

I know stuff is different where you are, but here is the one I made. My cost is less than $50. Parts = truck replacement tail pipe section from auto supply store (cut in half, split one half down the length and squeezed it inside the other half for mass), scrap wood, electric charcoal starter from a...

I have not sold them. Well, one is, but not shipped yet. I need to get some finished pictures. I was in such a crash to get them done for the GFA Convention, I didn't have time to take finished pictures or even do a proper French polish. I got them to shine a bit, and put them in a case to take. I h...

My apologies for hijacking another thread! I made my point, then got carried away!

You are all very kind! Thank you!

It's probably the stuffy attitude of the classical guitar buying public that keeps them along more traditional lines. I just got back from the Guitar Foundation's Annual Convention and International Competition. You do not see many "non standard" designs. The main exceptions being the Smallman and t...

+2 on Courtnall. However, the one thing that got me off dead center when I was getting ready to start my first classical build was the David Schramm CD on the 37 Hauser construction. It isn't like a DVD lesson, but more pictures and text, but it really made me go out and cut some wood. The first thi...

A couple of other points. Fish glue needs to be stirred or shaken before use, to keep it well mixed. It also has a shelf life of somwhere in the 2 year period.

Dave White also had a Fish Glue release situation on his daughter's guitar under very high, and unusual, heat and humidity conditions. Fish glue is somewhat hygroscopic, so attention to humidity and heat levels could be critical. I would not recommend using it if you do not work in a controlled envi...

Yes, the High Tack Fish Glue is the product. It does have a life, but as I understand, it can be frozen without damaging the glue, unklike PVA and AR glues. Lee Valley sells the Norland product in Quarts if you wish to try a smaller quantity. I wonder, however, if it would generate the same stir wit...

My favorite rectangular scrapers are, by far, the Lie Neilson ones. Two pack, 1 thick @ .5 mm, 1 thin @ about .3 mm, for about $14 US at Woodcraft. Don't know what the on line price is, never looked, as they were available locally,, and I believe in supporting my local businesses as much as possible...

The key is not to waste time. I have watched Mario's video a number of times, and when you watch, he never hurries, however all of his work is choreographed and deliberate - no wasted motions or do-overs. He guides his glue bottle with his other hand to keep it putting glue in the right places. He a...

You might explore http://webstrings.com. I used them for more than 10 years, playing and my son used them on his electric and steel string acoustic guitars. Also a couple of performers I know at the Ren Fest use them on guitars and mandolins. Hard to beat the prices when you buy a couple of dozen se...

Guess that sort of takes care of the remote start situation!