mdw3332

Maybe it is because I do build my own - though I won't put myself in the same category of most of you guys - in terms of quality or quantity. It is strictly a hobby. To the point of having a manager, agent, whatever you may call them, the only downside I see is that, for me anyway, I would want to talk to the person who is going to being the buid, look at and feel the wood and pretend that I know something about the work involved. I have no idea if there are enough people out there who feel the same way to the point that it would make a difference in the big picture or not. The deal with your roommate sounds like a no brainer, exposure at shows can open the doors and get your name and your work out there. Here is a hint, in my working life, I worked for the Yellow Pages and got stuck working a trade show for plumbing contractors - some seriously big money people were there. We had some kind of $.99 giveaway, I don't even remember what it was and we had people lined up to get one. Thr something like a ping pong ball drawing - if they get the "magic ball" they win a set of strings, if not they win a couple of picks. These guys just thought it was great. And spend a few bucks and get your name and logo printed on the picks. Name recognition.

Mikro, thanks for the advice on the blade size for re-sawing. I don't do a lot of it, but when I first got mine, I cut a piece of mahogany about 5 inches high with a 1/4" blade and it came out just about perfect. Here is a good way to buy one - have a wife with a craft business who met a guy who said he had a bunch of wood for sale as he was leaving the woodworking business. When I went to see it, he had a JET 14" with the riser for $175. I had a Craftsman Professional 14" before and there is no comparison.

Bob, thanks, I haven't heard of that. I will give it a try.

sd, thanks, I hadn't heard that. Have you ever tried the Optima water based stuff? I've done a couple of guitars with it and I like using it a lot. I have given the guitars away, so I don't know how it holds up, but it doesn't try to kill you like Nitro. Thanks. You are in San Diego? We lived in Orange County until 2005 and moved to Oregon. San Diego is great. I worked for Pacific Bell and had an assignment thet kept me in an apartment in Ocean Beach for 6 months through the summer. I worked in several places that were not that nice. Thanks for your help, I'm just kind of getting back into this silly hobby after 13 operations in the last 6 years. Is Drak still around? He was helpful to me, and there was a guy who, I believe, went by Danno G. who lives up here and we have met up several times over the years. Some good guys here as I recall.

Thank you guys, I appreciate the help. Ripthorn, I never even stopped to think that there were both Nitro and Acryli lacquers. I sort of figured that lacquer is lacquer, Live and learn. sdshirtman, why do you uggest staying away from Deft? I''m not questioning your advice, just wondering what kind of problems it creates. Thanks again, I have been away from this for 3 or 4 years and I wasn't all that great at finishing back then.

I haven't been around here for a long time. I haven't been building much and i had forgotten how much good information there was here. Here is my question: I'm finishing a neck to be painted black. Anyway, I want to make sure I am not going to run into compatibility issues by using Deft's Lacquer Sanding Sealer underneath an automotive lacquer paint. Should this be an issue? And if this works OK, would I be OK using Deft's clear lacquer as a clear coat, use the automotive lacquer clear coat or leave the paint alone? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks. BTW, I really like the new design, very modern looking and easy to use, nice work.

CL can be a great idea - I found a 14" one, brand new, in the box, for $275 on CL. Before that I had the old 12" that I absolutely loved. There wasn't a thing wrong with it, I just couldn't pass up the bigger one at that price. The only downside I have found is that it is more difficult to change blades. Maybe I just need to get used to it. Re-sawing with a 1/2" blade has worked very well.

I had an older Sears router that worked great and lasted a good long time. However, I have never found any of the newer ones to be built nearly as well. Also, I think I would want some more HP and definitely want 1/2" bit capability.

I always had management jobs in a great big company where long hair and career advancement didn't often go along. Wasn't a big deal. A couple of years after I retired, I pretty much just stopped getting it cut . I got it cut last week and it had been probably 10 - 12 months since the last one - it was mid-way down my shoulder blades. At my age - 62 - it really doesn't make a lot of difference to me although my wife says I sometimes look like a homeless guy. I've worn a beard for about 4 or 5 years, but I keep it real short - kind of the movie star stubble.

This is just wiped on amber shellac with clear shellac over it.

Terry, I got mine yesterday - very nice piece of wood and great service. I'm very happy. Marty

I just tried to order one and it showed the price at $68.88 plus $26.95 shipping and it said that the PG promo code didn't exist. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks, Marty

David, Another stunning piece of work - I love it. The pictures of the build were very interesting. Congratulations, Marty

The one thing I have learned - the hard way - is to wipe down your Purpleheart with a solvent before gluing. I've used Naptha. Otherwise, the oils in it will make clean glue lines very difficult. The middle Tele here is my adventure in Purpleheart. I bought 4 or 5 pieces of it (6-7" wide X 5' long by 1/4" thick) for something like $10.

I bought a radial arm drill press that is really versatile. The biggest complaint I had about the smaller one I had was that I couldn't do the holes for string through ferrules.

I bought a 4 or 4 1/2" angle grinder from Harbor Freight when I was building my first Strat. It works great, but like others have said, take it slow.

The properties of a piece of wood makes it sound the way it does. These may both be called Ash, but there is a notable difference in there general properties. Much as Alder differs from Rock Maple. Swamp Ash is a very light resonant wood, with a surface hardness that is quite acceptable for a solid body. White Ash usually is much heavier and stiffer(similar to sugar maple). Generally it seems Swamp Ash has a bit better weight to stiffness ratio, which is usually a good thing. Right now there are a couple people selling some great Swamp Ash at VERY reasonable prices in the buy sell trade section. I actually even picked up a couple boards from Jim Soloway(nice guy). He is not asking much for the wood, and it is wonderful dry resonant Swamp Ash(great bargain). Peace,Rich Rich, I also picked up some of Jim's stuff - nice isn't it. Do we have solid bodies to look forward to from you? I hope so. Marty

Rich, Thank you sir, although I thought 60 was plenty old enough My wife and son just gave me a blank check for a digital new digital camera. Another toy that I really don't need........but I'll buy one anyway. You need to get down here and we'll get Dan to come up and go do the Salem tour. Thanks again, Marty

Is the scale the same?

Here is what I tell people who want me to build something for them. This was in response to a friend who saw pictures of the Swamp Ash I bought from Jim Soloway and wants to pay me $150 for a Strat body. "The offer was more than fair - a pretty good ROI if you ask me - and certainly more than I would take. You know, cutting out and shaping a body is one of my favorite parts of building .......hmmmmm." Would you want all the routing - neck & pups too? Would you do the finishing? Hardtail or trem? Send me some details and I'll ponder it some more. Here are my rules for building: I don't do deadlines. I don't make money off friends - if we get this together, I'll do it, send it to you and you can pay for parts and tell me what you think it is worth. I am an amateur - I screw things up - many that won't ever be noticed, some that will. If I screw it up too bad, I'll start over or call the whole thing off. I really want to build *what* I want to build *when* I want to build it. If someone else likes it and wants to give me money, thats cool. if not, I'll keep it or give it away. Other peoples' money and expectations add an element of pressure that I don't need in my life. I really respect the guys who can work to other peoples' specs and make them happy - to me that's the big jump into being a professional builder. I have neither the skills nor interest for that jump. I worked too long to have my retirement the way I want it, and deadlines and keeping customers happy isn't a part of it. Don't get me wrong, it is a great feeling when someone likes my work, but I don't want to depend on that or necessarily use it a a measure of my improvement. What was the topic again? Sorry for the derailment.

Guys, if you will allow a bit of spam, this wood is great stuff at a wonderful price. I drove up yesterday and picked off B12, B17 and B25. Really nice grain and amazingly light. Thank you Jim. BTW Jim, the drive home was 3 hours and 20 minutes - the 205 was literally stopped over an hour to go about 3 miles. Other than that, the trip was well worth it - thanks. Marty

He really is good - I mean he signed that picture next December!

Doug, Thanks for the advice. My friend has a big machine shop and works with all kinds of metal so I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. Marty

This is a coincidence. I have been thinking about building a lap-steel. I broke my left arm and until I have my shoulder replaced, I can't reach the first 3 or 4 frets of a guitar, so I figured a lap steel would be fun. And I've been staring at a piece of walnut and some quilted maple for it. I'm just about finished with a bass that is quilted maple over walnut - the contrast of those two is just beautiful. I'm in the process of re-doing a friends walnut rifle stock with Tru-Oil. I've put about 5 coats on now and wet-sanded 2 of them. It's starting to look real nice and certainly is easy to use. Beautiful work by the way. Congratulations. Marty

I'm just finishing up with this devil. So far, I, pretty happy with it, it is for a friend who owns a big machine shop and that got me to thinking. I'm not having a good time cutting a nut for it and was wondering about the advantages / disadvantages of doing a brass nut. I imagine he could whip one out quite easily. Any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks, Marty