Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

I get the Target Coatings HSF5100 direct from Target Coatings in the USA. Postage is a killer, but I usually get a can of their EM2000 varnish at the same time. The filler usually lasts longer than the varnish. The filler pops the grain quite nicely and the clear stuff doesn't stain, so it won't obs...

Yep, I have used the Crystalac "clear" grain filler. I have quoted 'clear' because it is not completely clear. I found that sometimes it would go cloudy and I would get little white spots in the pores so in the end gave up. Also I think it contains silica so the dust is dangerous. I now use Target C...

Well I am about to send a mandola with a Paua abalone rosette (is Ablam so comes from the US) to the USA. We are getting the paperwork together. He is trying to get his import/export permit at the moment, but doesn't seem to be able to contact anyone in the bureaucracy by phone. This could take a wh...

I am sure most of us go through this occasionally, but I have had one of those days. Don't you hate it when someone hands you their el-cheepo and asks can you fix it. Well that happened about a month ago, a band member handed me their classical guitar and asked me to make a new saddle because the ol...

For those exporting instruments to the USA this will be useful. Depressing but useful. It is pobably the best information available at the moment.

http://www.luth.org/cites.htm

Peter

I'm way south in Bega on the NSW south coast and you are welcome to drop in if you get that far south.

Peter

Wow, nice Blackwood. What happened to the rest of the tree John? Looks like there could have been a few mandolin sized wedges made from the left overs.

Wouldn't you blokes be better off getting in to your workshops and building some instruments or taking your dog for walk or something else useful?

Here , here!

Been there done that - and after getting the finish perfect after many hours of work, the new owner returns it some time later with the finish completely wrecked. AAAHHGGG!! Simple carelessness, and they don't know and don't care how many hours and how much elbow grease went into that finish. If the...

My last French Polished guitar just finished received lots of time but when I scratched off the bridge area for gluing I noticed that it is an extremely thin finish. Why does that surprise you? The french polishing technique does produce a very thin finish, that is the nature of the beast. I have b...

I believe that the Stew Mac water based filler is the Target Coatings filler. I did get one can from Stew Mac and it seems to be the same stuff. I have read all the reviews and most certainly most do can it, but in most cases I think it is a problem with technique. This filler does work, I have been...

Thanks John, that was very interesting.

Peter

I have imported quite a bit of wood from those moonwood people in Switzerland over the years and never had amy problem with tariffs. Don't worry about it if the cost is less than $1000 AUD. Nice wood, you will like it.

Peter

I have used Gidgee and NSW Ironwood on mandolin fingerboards and didn't change anything. Frets went in similar to Ebony and no problems while I had the instruments and I have not heard from the customers so they must be still be ok.

I place an order for 20 ebony fingerboards and they came back to me wanting another $80 for postage. So postage all up was $120. More than the wood was. Yep, that is no surprise to me. Ebony is heavy so it costs in postage. I have seen postage costs escalate to ridiculous levels such that it is bec...

They used USPS. Postage was a killer because of the weight. It is all rough sawn, so weighs a bit more than the sanded stuff I got from Allied. Overall it cost me around $500 in total. The way I look at it is I got 5 EIR sets for $100AUD ea (not too bad, and it is exactly what I was looking for), an...

I am not sure what happened. There has been a great deal of confusion in the USA about the Lacey Act requirements, and it looks like Randy has managed to sort it out as it applies to his export business. I got an email from him just before I ordered this wood. Like all the other US suppliers, he is ...

Just a heads up for anyone interested in purchasing some Indian Rosewood for a very good price. Randy Allen has A grade Rosewood guitar sets on sale at the moment for $55ea for 3 sets, $52ea for 5 sets, and $45ea for 10 sets. I just got 5 sets and am not disappointed. They need some more seasoning, ...

Yep, I'm green with envy as well!

Peter

Would not be without one. My old Dremel is around 17 years old and still going strong, and still gets a lot of use. With these older Dremels, the bearings tend to come loose in the plastic housing. I put some slips of paper in there to tighten it up and it is still going fine. Has seen a lot of use....

Some more pictures

Some pictures as promised.

Don't let anyone try and convice you that African Mahogany is no good for guitars. I have read this advice on another forum and Joe has proven it is BS. Joe's guitar is Red Spruce and African Mahogany

I will try and take a few pictures of Joe's guitar today and post them when I get home. What I like is it is simple clean and elegant (no bling), beautifully executed, and most important is a tone monster. I agree with Bob, I have always liked what Joe has exhibited at past festivals, but he has mov...

For those of you who do make it to the National, you must check out Joe Gallagher's Red Spruce/Mahogany dreadnought. I am next to Joe and have picked it up a few times and have heard others play it. I'm gobsmacked, once matured this is going to be one awesome guitar. No, correction, it is already aw...

I'm already there. Will be in the Instrument makers display all weekend.

Peter