2010 Ukulele Building Class

[Allen]

I've got another class underway, but I've been a bit slack and haven't taken the camera to the first 2 sessions, and only remembered to pull out the phone camera towards the end of the session yesterday. So please forgive the poor quality of the pictures.

This year there are 6 students and we are putting together concert size instruments. All Blackwood supplied by Tim Spittle at Australian Tonewoods who goes out of his way putting some really great wood together for these kits.

The students are making great progress, and it's actually keeping me on my feet to think ahead enough to have them all busy and not just standing about.

At the end of the 3rd session we have the top and back plates joined, thicknessed and braced. Sides thicknessed and neck with scarf joint and stacked heel all laminated up.

This is Fae who took part in the course with Rick Turner and myself as part of the Cairns Ukulele Festival.

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Brian is pretty meticulous, checking over the plans.

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Alan getting the fuzzies of the braces.

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[Allen]

Had another session working on instruments last night and they got their first session on the bending irons. Everything went along well without any disasters. This particular Blackwood was rather difficult to bend on the iron though. It usually is really easy to bend.

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[Rob J Williams]

I think you may need to hire a photographer to cover these sorts of events for you Allen, and I think I may know someone!! All he asks for is flights, accomodation, food, beer and a bed (preferably indoors).

I cant imagine the work you are putting into this and it must be super hard to get the images you may want.

[Pete Howlett]

Great stuff Allen - seen this Ken Timms fix for situations where you have few clamps? A stool, a baseboard and a few 9mm plywood sticks - hey presto, a go-bar deck



For radiusing I used a simple caul with the machined radius onto which individual bars could be clamped. Takes an hour total to do a back Assuming a grab time of 10 minutes the proceedure is: glue and clamp 20 minutes each individual bar. Works a treat in the workshop environment and is simple, requiring no tutor assistance.

[Allen]

Some more class time in my shed this time. These folks are just blazing along and they now have most all of the components ready to start assembly. It was a cracker of a day, and we even managed to take time out and have lunch on the patio.


We're talking about how the tapering jig works and the importance of not flipping the fret board end to end when using it. They had all just finished cutting the fret slots but I didn't get a shot of that.


Me demoing the procedure.

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And everyone gets a turn at doing their own.

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Laying out the centre line on the fret board to assist in placing it on the neck blank.

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Once the taper was cut on the fret board they penciled in the outline on the neck blank and cut off the waist on the bandsaw.

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Neck shaping after I had used the pattern router to clean up the bandsaw cuts using the fret board as a reference.

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Dragon Rasps make short work on the Blackwood.

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I've got a "Shop" uke that everyone can use as a reference. Nev isn't sure which way is out though.

[faemorgan]

Hey Allen, can you take some photo's where I dont look so grumpy next time?

[Allen]

Just a look of shear commitment to the task of not cutting anything off that's meant to stay attached Fae. You did great, and no one would know that you had never used power tools up to a couple of months ago.

[Leo]

This looks like great fun, but I presume it's in Cairns?

Does anyone know of any similar classes to this running in or around the Sydney area?

[Lillian]

Fae, Allen is right. You look very focused is all.

[Ronald_Handmade]

I'd be keen to have a go too, if there was something happening. Timing and budgeting allowing, of course!

[Allen]

Welcome to the forum Leo, and yes it in Cairns.

[faemorgan]

I really recommend these classes, the best time I've had for ages. And it doesnt involve a hang over!

[Nick]

Allen! What sort of classes are you running if your students aren't suffering hangovers?
Welcome to the forum Fae

[Allen]

They're all gone a bit soft on me Nick, though Fae was asking me what sort of beer I fancied. I recon she can visit the shed anytime.

[liam_fnq]

I know the answer. It's a cold one

[Leo]

Thanks Allen, I've learned a fair bit already just from reading around these forums, great stuff.

[Allen]

Some more progress.

Laminating on a back strap to the headstock.

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Nev trial fitting the sides to the slots in the Spanish Heel.

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Alan installing kerfed linnings.

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Nev laying out the fret dot markers.

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[faemorgan]

Its great that you take these photos Allen. A lot better than my phone camera. Looking forward to Wednesday, it seems to be coming together so quickly, maybe we should string it out a little...

[Localele]

Come on Fae , keep your mind on the job.You are starting to sound like those old blokes.

[Allen]

If they get knocked off early, there might be opportunity to do another.

[Bob Connor]

The most likely early knocking off in your shed would be the free beer the students bring over.

[faemorgan]

Do you mean it Allen, that we could do another one?
I'm sure there would be a few who would be keen. I would be!

[Localele]

Fea's been bitten by the 'LUTHIER BUG". Your in big trouble now Fae.

[Allen]

Well, I've got lists of people wanting to build an instrument. Not enough time in the day to accommodate them all.

[Allen]

Some more photo's off of the camera.

The class is getting a little spread out in their building progress. Mark is playing catch up after having to go away for work, so we managed to get him well on the way on Wednesday night.

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