Search found 4738 matches

by Allen
Mon Feb 01, 2021 1:52 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Forum section for business
Replies: 11
Views: 18759

Re: Forum section for business

The reason that there is a Pro only forum I mentioned on Facebook, (and you have to be invited and vetted), is that when you allow amateurs / hobbiests in, the conversation and topics very often strays into the absurd. I imagine this is what Trent's comments are about. Also there are topics as pro's...
by Allen
Mon Feb 01, 2021 7:02 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Forum section for business
Replies: 11
Views: 18759

Re: Forum section for business

There is a very good private group on FaceBook that only allows full time luthiers and a few in the allied support businesses. Members from all around the world and several that are members here. May be a better option for you and any others that would qualify.
by Allen
Sun Jan 17, 2021 1:07 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Guitalele / Martin 5 Terz
Replies: 5
Views: 6752

Re: Guitalele / Martin 5 Terz

I use 45mm width at the nut and 53mm on centre to string spacing at the saddle. I did one out at 50mm at the nut and I think from memory it was 56mm at the saddle for a client that was coming from Classical Guitar and he liked it but I thought it was way too wide for my liking, and it just looked re...
by Allen
Sun Jan 17, 2021 7:20 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Guitalele / Martin 5 Terz
Replies: 5
Views: 6752

Re: Guitalele / Martin 5 Terz

I've built several Guitalele's on both the tenor and baritone body size. The more traditional one is on the tenor but I think the baritone size with a 21.5" scale suits the tuning of A-a better. All my necks get a CF truss rod no matter the size of the instrument. I use Requinto strings or alternate...
by Allen
Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:16 pm
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video
Replies: 13
Views: 42233

Re: Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video

I never leave a "layer" of epoxy. But it's a fine line of sanding so you are just leaving it in the pores or cutting timber off and exposing more pores.
by Allen
Fri Jan 01, 2021 6:58 am
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video
Replies: 13
Views: 42233

Re: Updated Epoxy Pore Filling Demo - Video

Same for for all subsiquent coats as required.

For softwood soundboards that don't get pore filled I will sand up to P320 with my Festool fine orbit sander. It gives an effective finish as if you were going P400 by hand.
by Allen
Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:06 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Website research
Replies: 5
Views: 14127

Re: Website research

My business has had it's own domain / website since 2008. I would consider it pretty much essential to have a decicated name if you are to be taken seriously. You also have to have an SSL certificate installed for that domain or many if not all the web browsers are going to through up a warning now ...
by Allen
Thu Nov 26, 2020 4:41 pm
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Leveling dust specs and other imperfections
Replies: 6
Views: 20605

Re: Leveling dust specs and other imperfections

It depends on what finish you are using as to what you can go with for sanding grit. Some requite no more than P400 for a good bond. Others can be up at P800 and still work out fine. Just depends on that particular finish. Many used in the automotive trade require P600 to P800 and nothing coarser or...
by Allen
Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:38 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Baritone Ukulele
Replies: 6
Views: 6232

Re: Baritone Ukulele

I would never go below 2.0 on a Baritone top.
by Allen
Tue Nov 24, 2020 6:49 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Baritone Ukulele
Replies: 6
Views: 6232

Re: Baritone Ukulele

If you have used a fan bracing pattern and there are "dips" between them, then my experience is that you have taken the top just a bit too thin. I had this problem on earlier instruments until I tried going with slightly heavier soundboard and lighter bracing. I'm not sure what you are refering to i...
by Allen
Tue Sep 08, 2020 6:12 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Side sanding dish motor & side bender??
Replies: 6
Views: 5915

Re: Side sanding dish motor & side bender??

I got a used potters wheel on local buy and sell that I converted into my motorised sanding station. I'd never go without it. I hand bend all sides and bindings on a iron and then set the shape on a solid form with heat blanket. You don't have to get them exact when hand bending. The final set of sh...
by Allen
Tue Sep 08, 2020 6:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Brisbane humidity
Replies: 16
Views: 14615

Re: Brisbane humidity

My workshop is in Cairns and is 9x6m metal shed with insulation under the roofing metal. I work with 2 large bay doors open to my back yard. Inside when we purchased this place there was a slightly smaller than 3x3m room that I further insulated and sealed with plastic then lined with plywood. This ...
by Allen
Wed Sep 02, 2020 4:57 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Sanding Sealer
Replies: 7
Views: 5831

Re: Sanding Sealer

I use the 2K Polyurethane sanding sealer in the system I'm finishing with. All finishes are speced to be sprayed at 20C to achieve the correct viscosity per their reducer / thinner recomondations. If it's still too thick for your liking then warming it up even more certainly will help with spraying ...
by Allen
Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:04 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Sanding Sealer
Replies: 7
Views: 5831

Re: Sanding Sealer

If you are going for a high gloss and perfect finish, then your pore filling / sealing has to be pretty much perfect before you proceed onto your top coats. Most people are far too impatient and jump ahead before getting this critical step done. There are lots of methods to prep that timber. I've tr...
by Allen
Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:50 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Side waves
Replies: 15
Views: 11780

Re: Side waves

I had some Blackwood that would do that no matter what I did while bending. Sometimes wood will just do what it wants to do and we have to either walk away from using it, or learn to live with it. If you are going forward with it as is then using a low gloss / satin finish will help disguise the wav...
by Allen
Mon Jun 01, 2020 6:29 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Courier recommendation
Replies: 8
Views: 8030

Re: Courier recommendation

I explored that option that Pete is using by going into our local Pack and Send and getting a quote to send an instrument to Hong Kong. If I packed up my own instrument and dropped it off at the depot then the cost was approximately $100 more than if I booked on line and had one of their contracted ...
by Allen
Tue May 26, 2020 6:24 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The order of things ...
Replies: 14
Views: 15803

Re: The order of things ...

I fret the entire board prior to gluing it to the neck an can't come up with any reason why you wouldn't in the initial build. I locate the board with a dummy nut to space it from the peg head, and use the Carbon Fibre truss rod as a locating key. The bottom of the fret board is has a 4mm x 2mm deep...
by Allen
Sat May 23, 2020 8:40 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Baritone Ukulele Strings
Replies: 4
Views: 5042

Re: Baritone Ukulele Strings

I get them on eBay.com.au

Just do a search for Martin Baritone Strings.
by Allen
Sat May 23, 2020 6:46 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Baritone Ukulele Strings
Replies: 4
Views: 5042

Re: Baritone Ukulele Strings

No. Not used them. For my Baritones I string them with Martin Baritones.
by Allen
Wed May 20, 2020 4:52 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: It's not all bad news....
Replies: 12
Views: 11116

Re: It's not all bad news....

The price difference will absolutely astound you Martin. $83 AUD for AustPost. $450 AUD by DHL and even higher by others for the exact same package. I went through the exercise for the last instrument.
by Allen
Wed May 20, 2020 4:35 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: It's not all bad news....
Replies: 12
Views: 11116

Re: It's not all bad news....

I don't want to get any busier. The biggest issue I have is getting them to clients overseas. What use to be 4-5 business days to the USA is now 20+.
by Allen
Wed May 20, 2020 8:01 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: My pore filling
Replies: 12
Views: 13580

Re: My pore filling

If you are using pumice with the shellac then you can get very good results. Though it is very time consuming. It's the first step in a full French Polish finish. The pumic is inert and the shellac binds it. You still need to leave an appropriate amount of dry time to get the alcohol fully evaporate...
by Allen
Wed May 20, 2020 6:28 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: My pore filling
Replies: 12
Views: 13580

Re: My pore filling

In deep pores using this method you are going to experience some serious sink back down the road as the lacquer continues to dry. And that process of drying / shrinking never stops with a solvent based lacquer. That's why when builders are serious about dead flat and high gloss finishes that last th...
by Allen
Sat May 16, 2020 7:07 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: A new classical mandolin
Replies: 9
Views: 10302

Re: A new classical mandolin

That's a great looking instrument Graham. Love the headstock.
by Allen
Wed May 13, 2020 6:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Alternatives to Mirotone for clear hi gloss finish
Replies: 5
Views: 5606

Re: Alternatives to Mirotone for clear hi gloss finish

The Gold Standard would be Mirothane Polyurethane. But you'll be up for even more than Mirotone lacquer. It's also much more difficult to spray unless you are competent with a gun.

You will be very hard pressed to find a harder, yet more flexible finish.