...On the bench, again...

[J.F. Custom]

Hi all,

Well I know this topic has just been covered but I finally have my new workshop 90% operational and feel I've actually got something to contribute now
I could have just continued and bumped the old thread but it had unintentionally got a little off topic so I thought I'd start a new one...

Any other last minute contributors feel free to jump on board

Here's some of what's on my bench at the moment.

The trusty truss rod jig just prior to use -



Then the old shooting board was getting a workout -



On some particularly stunning figured timber... any guesses?



And then there is this on the other bench... A Cymbalom in for repair for a customer.



Just be happy guitars don't usually have this many strings... Interesting internals on this one.



This Cymbalom was bought off ebay in the Ukraine I think? It did in fact arrive, much to the owners surprise, months after payment. However when it was tuned up, it wanted to do its impressionism version of a banana, which is unfortunate. So in it came. Though I have made a couple of these, this one differs a little. Upon inspection, it has a delaminated joint in the top and some bracing that is doing the unstuck (Cure reference sorry!) etc which wouldn't help the bending situation. It should not account for it completely though and with no further structural damage, leads me to believe it has either; A - been cheaply made with too light a framework to support the intended string tension or; B - too heavy gauge strings for it's intended construction
Now to figure out the best approach to rectify the problems...

I'll do a thread documenting the next time I build one of these, just for something different on here.

Cheers all,

Jeremy.

[Hesh1956]

Looking great Jeremy and there is nothing like a great shop with some Lutherie action happening in it.

I'll guess Blackwood on the wood pic?

[J.F. Custom]

Thanks Hesh,

And thanks for replying also! Feel like I'm talking to myself around here... At least it's good company

Your guess is incorrect but probably to be expected. It does superficially resemble blackwood a bit and being that you are not local, your knowledge of our timbers is likely to be limited to the more common species. Much like mine would be of yours I guess.

Nope this timber is about twice the weight/density (about 1200kg per c/m) and extremely hard. It is said a ball bearing fired at close range will not dent it!

It's Ringed (fiddleback) Gidgee or Acacia Cambagei. It is used mostly for fingerboards and bridges and is perfect for this task. It is rarely seen for any other purpose as the trees are very slow growing, small and filled with voids, knots etc making larger pieces very difficult to come by. When you do, the imperfections are worth working around because it is a very beautiful timber. Here I am fortunate enough to have a piece which is large enough to use for the cap on an electric I am building. I am working around the knot holes you see in the photo. I'll show more photos down the track when I can.

Cheers,

Jeremy.

[Kim]

Nice bit of gidgee Jeremy,


That Ukrainian instrument makes my head hurt. I was given something like it once many years ago, it was dark, a black plum colour with lots of tiny colourful flowers and green foliage painted on it. It had many many strings running in pairs or triplets from longish (about 500mm) to quite short (about 250mm) and shit loads of pins. It scared me because I did not understand it so I gave it away to someone who showed a passing interest. Kind of wish I had it back now so I could send it to you. When I look back it was quite a beautiful thing and deserved much more respect than it got from us as teens.

I would like to see how you deal with these things Jeremy as I am sure many of us would, so please don't be put off by the slow response, where just a little frightened tis all.

Oh, by the way, the instrument I was describing had more of a harp shape to the crown and some kind of sound box at the bottom below the pins.


Cheers

Kim

[Lillian]

Jeremy, I think I'm going to use your truss rod jig. It looks straight forward easy enough for me to build.

Thanks for posting the picture.

As for the wood, I swear you have the greatest collection of beautiful wood down under.

[J.F. Custom]

Hey Kim,

It 'tis a nice bit of Gidgee... as is your Myall too

There are many types of these instruments around, such as Hammered Dulcimers, Santurs and Hackbretts - variations on a theme. They are old instruments found all over the world; it would be difficult to pinpoint a particular country of origin.

I have seen a few similar to that which you describe. Seems they got around a bit - particularly the smaller ones, in the 70's perhaps? Often ended up in the hands of children and teenagers and now seen occasionally floating around in various states of disrepair and neglect! These larger professional instruments are some of my favourites - one of the reasons I got into making instruments in the first place.

I don't worry about slow replies or no replies You'll all pipe up if there is something to say I'm sure. In hindsight, I should have just added to the thread already going rather than start again though...


Thanks Lillian!

Your builds are looking fine indeed. The jig is simple, just a fancy version of an edge guide really. Does make it easier though to set up for accurate results. Hands free with the toggle clamps makes small adjustments easy and nothing to obstruct your router is convenient. I believe Bob posted a pic a while ago of his jig which is another variation on the same theme from memory... not sure which thread though sorry.

Oh, and yes, I have to agree - we do have beautiful timbers down here And thanks to us Luthiers, some of it is going to better use now too, or at least, we try to put it to better use Sadly, we still chip Myrtle for paper too...

Jeremy.

[Lillian]

Sadly, we still chip Myrtle for paper too...

Jeremy.

WHAT!????

[John Steele]

Always one looking for a bargain,,,
Over the past couple days I have been in the binding mode.

Turning this:


Into this:


I bought the 1 1/2 X 3/4 maple @ Lowe's for $6.00. (decent figure!) Purchased the veneer online for $8.00. A little glue, a little cutting, and a little clamping gave me 40 pieces. Had maybe 4 hours total time invested.

[Nick]

Nice going John. I shouldn't be so lazy and buy ready made stuff, the world of binding possibilities opens up to you when you make your own!

[Lillian]

I'm jealous John. We have a choice of poplar, oak of undetermined variety and fir at our box stores.

I just received some Peruvian Walnut that I intend to turn into bindings. I might just follow your lead.