Mandolin Progress

[Kim Strode]

This is a Flat Top Mandolin I've been working on for about a year...I'm determined to finish it within the next month. Just the bridge to make, along with finishing and assembly to complete. The back and sides are Blackwood, with Bear Claw Sitka Spruce Top. The neck is laminated Queensland Maple with Blackwood centre combined with black and white veneer. The fretboard is ebony.

[56nortondomy]

Nice Kim, that blackwood looks as though it'll really pop under a finish.
Wayne

[ozziebluesman]

Looks great Kim, very classy work there mate!

Cheers

Alan

[Mark McLean]

Looking very good Kim.

[Bob Connor]

I think I'll have to come for a drive and have a listen when it's finished Kim.

Regards

[rocket]

Very nice work there Kim, lovely bit of spruce too, that bear claw is going to really stand out with some finish on it, can i ask which method you used to cut the sound hole purfling channel, twin blade purfling cutter or dremmel??
Cheers,,

Rod.

[Kim Strode]

Hi Rod,

I deliberated over cutting the soundhole and purfling for some, time as I didn't have enough confidence in my hand skills. In the end I made a new perspex base for the Stewmac router base with a small brass tube in the perspex, which acted as the router bit guide. I then found a friendly laser cutter who was able to cut two perspex guides from computer drawings for the soundhole as well as larger one for the purling. It took several attempts to achieve the correct sized perspex guides and a little practice to achieve a clean shape. The trick was to ensure the router guide was held hard against the perspex guide as both cuts were made.

[Nick]

Nooooice
Very clean looking Kim and as Wayne and Rod said, that's going to really pop under some jam.