Search found 1072 matches

by Mark McLean
Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:33 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Malaysia Spring
Replies: 14
Views: 11643

Re: Malaysia Spring

I really like those Jeffrey. What woods do you use? Can you tell us how each leaf is constructed?
cheers
Mark
by Mark McLean
Thu Mar 22, 2012 8:30 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: A Baritone for Renee
Replies: 26
Views: 22948

Re: A Baritone for Renee

I'm speachless Allen. Just perfect in design and execution. I really love the colours and the art deco design cues in the rosette and headstock. And the heelcap and binding arangement is very classy. Surely, though, it can't sound any good?
Mark
by Mark McLean
Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:09 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Norton Water Stones
Replies: 4
Views: 5461

Re: Norton Water Stones

Sounds like you have got it all sorted out.
by Mark McLean
Sat Mar 17, 2012 5:13 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Norton Water Stones
Replies: 4
Views: 5461

Re: Norton Water Stones

Hi Jeremy Good job with the thickness gauge. I have been planning to make one too. Where did you get the gear? On another note, I notice two things that you mentioned regarding your first build - "no air con in the shed" and "getting close to closing the box" Are you aware of the humidity issue? I b...
by Mark McLean
Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:20 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Kauri top
Replies: 15
Views: 12478

Re: Kauri top

Yep, I reckon you'd be getting excited about that already!

It's going to be nice Rod.
by Mark McLean
Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:11 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: First one done....more or less...
Replies: 12
Views: 12820

Re: First one done....more or less...

Nick, that is a stunning result. Hard to believe that it is your first one!
I really like the way that you have personalized the bridge and headstock design. Is that all your own inlay work on the peghead?

Nice stuff. Are you planning to do another?

cheers
Mark
by Mark McLean
Fri Mar 02, 2012 6:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New website
Replies: 3
Views: 3193

Re: New website

Bill
That link doesn't seem to be working yet. Looking forward to seeing it though!
Mark
by Mark McLean
Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:06 am
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: swivel vice
Replies: 8
Views: 15116

Re: swivel vice

Hi Bill I just love the pictures of your workshop (so much natural light) and your jigs. I spent a couple of hours last night trying to work out a good design for a temporary router table as part of my set-up. I went to bed still unhappy - then woke up and saw your "quick-release" picture. Problem s...
by Mark McLean
Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:11 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Lutz and Blackwood classical
Replies: 13
Views: 15224

Re: Lutz and Blackwood classical

Very, very nice. That blackwood is stunning and you have used it beautifully. Great job!
Mark
by Mark McLean
Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:00 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Buying a bandsaw - opinions please.
Replies: 38
Views: 30758

Re: Buying a bandsaw - oppinions please.

It looks good. Buy the bugger.
by Mark McLean
Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:49 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Tools!
Replies: 10
Views: 9533

Re: Tools!

Hi Ben It depends on what scale of operation you are planning. If you are getting into luthery as a hobby, not a business, I am in agreement with everthing that Jeremy and John just wrote. I am now working on guitars number 5 and 6 and I have been gradually scaling up my gear. I recently bought a dr...
by Mark McLean
Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Leftovers
Replies: 7
Views: 7945

Re: Leftovers

Good list Dom
Definitely not throw-away. I have a couple of drawers full of offcuts. It is amazing how even small pieces come in handy for something.
by Mark McLean
Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:15 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Alcoflex as a french polish solvent
Replies: 28
Views: 22983

Re: Alcoflex as a french polish solvent

Hey Rob - I was wondering how you managed to go through industrial quantities of solvents doing FP on guitars? Then I clicked on your webpage link. Wow - that is beautiful finishing work on a scale that makes luthery seem puny. And I love the workbench on the 'In the workshop' page. What is the hist...
by Mark McLean
Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:53 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Sand paper on radius dish
Replies: 17
Views: 16117

Re: Sand paper on radius dish

Jeez - you blokes are smart! Varnish the bloody dish! I didn't think of that before now.
by Mark McLean
Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:31 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Alcoflex as a french polish solvent
Replies: 28
Views: 22983

Re: Alcoflex as a french polish solvent

The trouble with pure ethanol from any source is that it is quite hygroscopic (attracts and absorbs water from the air and environment). So even if you pay top dollar for highly purified stuff it won't stay that way if it is sitting around in a bottle in the workshop being opened and closed once in ...
by Mark McLean
Sun Jan 29, 2012 5:40 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Time for a drum sander
Replies: 12
Views: 11080

Re: Time for a drum sander

About 6 months ago I got a 400mm one from Hare & Forbes http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/L110 . It looks identical to the carbatec one. I have been very happy with it. A drum sander and bandsaw are the two most useful power tools you could invest in. You definitely need dust extraction with it (add ...
by Mark McLean
Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:05 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Cocobolo guitar all done
Replies: 9
Views: 11056

Re: Cocobolo guitar all done

OK, I found your previous post - Koa bindings and end graft. Nice combo. All round good result.
Mark
by Mark McLean
Thu Jan 26, 2012 9:53 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Cocobolo guitar all done
Replies: 9
Views: 11056

Re: Cocobolo guitar all done

Really nice work there Wayne. And 6 months would be a quick job in my workshop! I love the look of cocobolo, and your piece really has it all going on. Unfortunately I have developed a bad sensitivity to it, but I am jealous of those who can use it for nice looking instruments like this one. That is...
by Mark McLean
Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:25 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: new year project
Replies: 10
Views: 9277

Re: new year project

I'm always impressed by your work Jeff, and I bet your customers are too! Malaysian blackwood is stunning!
Happy New Year
Mark
by Mark McLean
Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:44 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: D'oh!!!
Replies: 16
Views: 13302

Re: D'oh!!!

And Kim - thanks for that great pictorial lesson. I hadn't really cottoned on to that before but now it is crystal clear. Brilliant
mm
by Mark McLean
Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: D'oh!!!
Replies: 16
Views: 13302

Re: D'oh!!!

Hi Dekka There was a good thread on humidity issues a few months ago and you might want to have a look through it here. http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3749&hilit=+humidity Towards the bottom of it I relate an identical experience that I had recently, and that was with flatsawn timber (the ...
by Mark McLean
Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:11 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Gurian bridge pins
Replies: 15
Views: 13710

Re: Gurian bridge pins

I agree that unslotted pins are the go. I used to think that it was important to have slots in the pins to seat the string in, and I even posted a tutorial here a while ago on a method to cut slots in unslotted bridge pins. But now I am a convert to the idea that Allen mentioned of having the ball o...
by Mark McLean
Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:12 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Friday night question
Replies: 2
Views: 2868

Re: Friday night question

Bruce It should not make any difference. The zero fret sets the height of the strings and the nut simply acts to set the spacing between the strings. The distance is not critical. If you imagine a guitar with a capo - the capo can be at any distance from the nut and it still works by setting the 3rd...
by Mark McLean
Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:49 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Christmas Tune
Replies: 4
Views: 5252

Re: Christmas Tune

Compliments of the season to you Dave. Thanks for that - I enjoyed your playing. The crisp bell-like tone of that guitar in DADGAD is just great.
cheers
Mark
by Mark McLean
Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:07 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Something radical
Replies: 27
Views: 26238

Re: Something radical

Well it does look really pretty! Among the more normal soundboard species I would have guessed Bunya Pine because of the pink colouring and the prominent grain. You are giving us a pretty strong clue that this is not a rarefied, instrument-uses-only type of timber. Something as common as mud but tur...