Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

This one for a returning client that already has a Zircote Tenor from me. Must really like it.

Body - Zircote
Soundboard - Sitka with mild Bear Claw
Bindings - Australian Blackwood
Rosete - Australian Blackwood
Scratch Plate - Australian Blackwood
Fret Board, Bridge, Peg Head - Ebony
Neck - Mahogany
Machine Heads - Grover
Strings - Worth Browns, low G
Pickup - K&K Aloha Twin
Finish - Mirotone 3220

ooozing class

Setting the standards as usual....nice work Allen.

I've still got a twelve string planned using these timber combo's and everytime I see your Ziricote Ukes the itch becomes stronger! Brilliant work as usual Allen and all class.
I know I've asked this before but how hard is the Ziricote to bend, or no trouble at all? Just tapping and flexing the raw board it feels a little brittle.

It's a complete pain in the ass to work with Nick.

Though it's much tougher than most other timbers, bending isn't so bad as I get it down to 1.6 - 1.7mm. Sure wouldn't want to try anything tight at a thickness more than that. You can expect some spring back if using a blanket and form.

It's very difficult to glue. So far it and Cocobolo are the only timbres I won't use HHG for braces and book matches.

And when it comes time to finish it. Do yourself a favour and flood it first with thin CA. Making sure to work it in with a hard spreader. It can hide micro cracks that will drive you mad.

Allen wrote:It's a complete pain in the ass to work with Nick.

Though it's much tougher than most other timbers, bending isn't so bad as I get it down to 1.6 - 1.7mm. Sure wouldn't want to try anything tight at a thickness more than that. You can expect some spring back if using a blanket and form.

It's very difficult to glue. So far it and Cocobolo are the only timbres I won't use HHG for braces and book matches.

And when it comes time to finish it. Do yourself a favour and flood it first with thin CA. Making sure to work it in with a hard spreader. It can hide micro cracks that will drive you mad.

Duly noted, Thanks Allen.

Allen, does epoxy pore fill go over the ca with no problems? I am just about to start finishing a zircote L00.

Allen wrote:It's a complete pain in the ass to work with Nick.

Though it's much tougher than most other timbers, bending isn't so bad as I get it down to 1.6 - 1.7mm. Sure wouldn't want to try anything tight at a thickness more than that. You can expect some spring back if using a blanket and form.

It's very difficult to glue. So far it and Cocobolo are the only timbres I won't use HHG for braces and book matches.

And when it comes time to finish it. Do yourself a favour and flood it first with thin CA. Making sure to work it in with a hard spreader. It can hide micro cracks that will drive you mad.

As long as you sand the CA back to bare wood I can't see any issues.

I found out the hard way that no matter how thin your epoxy is, you just can't get it to wick into those fine cracks in the Zircote. The CA will fix that up for you.

Thanks heaps Allen, you may have just saved me some heartache

This is what I use for getting into cracks: