Norman Blake style 000

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:22 am

You can certainly practice inlaying different woods. The process is exactly the same, and it'll give you some idea of how to follow a line with the saw. This is the first time I've tried engraving, and I don't know if you would have much luck on something as soft as wood.

We've got a great source for shell here in Australia. It's MOP Supplies, and as far as I can tell, his prices are pretty hard to beat. A little goes a long way, so if you get an ounce of white MOP, it won't break the bank. Fret saw blades are very easy to break, and should be considered expendable. You can buy them by the gross for not much more than what places like Stew Mac are charging for a dozen.

I've got an email address for a local supply that a mate uses all the time. He swears by their product and service. I still have a stock of ones that I paid too much for, but if anyone is interested I'll pass it along.

DarwinStrings · Post by **DarwinStrings** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:14 am

Yes pleas Allen I would like the supplier of those piercing saw blades.

Craig I have some Mixed packs of Mop that contains some White,gold and black Mop as well as a little green and pink abalone and they will not break your budget. My web site is in my profile if you want to have a look.

Jim

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:51 am

Check your email Jim.

Hippety Hop · Post by **Hippety Hop** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:32 pm

The inlay looks fantastic Allen.

You must have some new calluses on your finger tip from holding the little buggers down while you're cutting.

Hip.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:12 pm

The cutting wasn't too bad on the fingers, but the eyes are a different matter. I tried to use one of those large magnifying lenses on an arm, but I found that it ended up in the way more than not, so I bought a pair of 2.5 reading glasses from the local chemist. Too strong for me for reading, but bloody brilliant for this sort of work.

Clancy · Post by **Clancy** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:13 am

Thanks Allen, I'm interested and I'll PM you my email.
Jim, I'm on your website now. No doubt you'll here from me shortly.

sebastiaan56 · Post by **sebastiaan56** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:19 pm

Hi Allen,

Im just catching up after being in no-bandwidth land, that is some very pretty work mate!

The news here is saying Cairns has been swept into the sea, are you OK?

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:10 pm

Allen wrote:Check your email Jim.

Could you PM me as well thanks Allen.

Cheers

Kim

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:24 pm

Emails off for the fret saw blades

Thanks Sebastiaan. Well, I'm still kicking, but my feet are a bit wet. Bloody good thing we live on a hill. I have never in my life seen rain like that, and I've seen a monsoon or two. Most of Cairns was under water for at least part of the day, and I can't imagine what the damage bill is going to come to from this.

I'll never stop being amazed at how stupid some people can be after seeing people in little Japanese imports driving into water where they just watched a prime mover drive through up to it's door handles.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:49 pm

Allen wrote:Emails off for the fret saw blades

I'll never stop being amazed at how stupid some people can be after seeing people in little Japanese imports driving into water where they just watched a prime mover drive through up to it's door handles.

Thanks for the email Allen much appreciated.

Yep, no two ways about it M8, some people just seem to require instructions for the simplest of things even when there is clear evidence right in front of them that the way they are doing something is probably not quite right.

Cheers

Kim

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:02 pm

No doubt about it indeed.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 6:17 pm

Body is bound, and the first epoxy pore fill is complete. There's not much in the way of pores to fill on maple, but there are small voids to fill in some of the birdseyes, and the epoxy really brings out the figure.

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 5:02 am

She's going to be beautiful Allen.

DarwinStrings · Post by **DarwinStrings** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 10:55 am

That birdseye is something else......and the purple too.

Kim.....did you sell her that cossie?

Looks like you have got our rain Allen, we have only had about 700mm so far since Oct so we are a bit behind this year.

Jim

PHANTOM · Post by **PHANTOM** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:30 pm

That is looking great mate. Could you please e mail me the saw blade contact aswell thanks mate.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:50 pm

It's going to be a real Girlie looking guitar for sure. I had thought that this would probably be the case when I first saw the maple. But I'm really liking it, and I don't recall ever seeing an instrument that you would say was overly feminine. Hopefully someone else will like it as well, and it finds a new home.

Email has been sent Wayne.

PHANTOM · Post by **PHANTOM** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:24 pm

Thanks mate do you pore fill with zpoxy or something else. Did you use any kind of lubricant on the blade when you cut your pearl inlay.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:20 am

Pore fill with WEST Systems. I've got a very accurate digital scale designed for mixing automotive paints, and I make up 5 or 10 grams of epoxy to do an instrument. Depends on the type of wood.

Pearl cutting with a dry blade. I've got the Rio Grande catalogue and they've got some really good equipment for this sort of work, along with blade lubricants that they say will greatly prolong blade life, and help blade tracking. I think I'll get some to try for the next time around.

Taffy Evans · Post by **Taffy Evans** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:19 pm

Hi Allen Ive been a bit slack in not following this thread, so I just read it from the start. Great work mate, I really love the inlay work very well executed and very well balanced, it just works well, love it.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:58 pm

I've managed to get this one completed today. The lacquer had 4 weeks dry time while I was away, and it's really improved the sand-ability and buffing. I know that I should leave them all this long, but it's hard to just leave them hanging there, almost done.

I've set the action very low, and have just a hint of a buzz if strummed hard. I think that once everything starts to settle in that it should disappear, if not there will be some more tweaking to do.

Hippety Hop · Post by **Hippety Hop** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:32 pm

That looks fantastic. Wish I could feel it.

Does the fretboard just lay on the top?

Did you use a downcut bit?

Did you ride the bike to Geelong and back?

Hip?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:52 pm

The fret board is fully floating for the adjustable neck. The cap head bolt that you see in the heel is the adjuster for the neck. You can see the evolution of this neck design in the "Adjustable Neck" thread.

There are 2 1/8 x 3/8 carbon fiber rods that extend all the way from the end of the fret board ( hidden by binding on end of fret board) through into the head stock. They are inlet into the fret board 1/8 of an inch, and into the neck by 1/4 of an inch. Makes the fret board from the 12th fret to the sound hole rock solid.

If you are talking about a down cut bit for the inlay in the head stock, then yyes, they are ones from Stew Mac.

And finally, yes, I rode the motorcycle from Cairns to Geelong, and back. 10,000 kms and a very sore posterior.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:35 pm

Hey Allen, love the inlay, the picture from the side looks great the way the light is picked up. The stems look like wood?
I still am too impatient to delay getting a new guitar strung up and hearing it by doing such detailed work.
So very nice work and very zen like patience.
Cheers
Dom

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:38 pm

The stems are some Koa that David Hurd sent me a while back. Just so much beautiful wood in the box, that I had to use a bit of it right away.

DarwinStrings · Post by **DarwinStrings** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 7:02 pm

Very Pretty Allen. So if you want to change the action you just tweak that, is it a socket head cap screw?. What ever it is I assume you just tweak it and you action is back down.

Jim

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