donald k wilson Posted May 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 (edited) Next steps, trimming sides to accurate (in mold) length, they butt together and the bottom joint will show. The neckblock and tailblock are then glued in place. Thje little clamps on the lower right bout are the first pieces of lining and stiffeners. Edited May 16, 2005 by donald k wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 I didn't like the limited access with the form laying flat. The stiffeners go in between 4" lengths of lining, this keeps them square to the side and allows you to work right along one set of linings and one stiffener at a time. I made feet for the mold, stood it up, and now have easy access to top and bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Here's a closer view of the last shot. The 2 1/4" form leaves enough room on the side so you can get the little lining clamps on all around the edge. The bigger clamps hold the stiffeners and go around the whole form. LOT'S of clamps required or the process can take a couple of days waiting for glue to dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 I love your clamps. Very creative Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Very Cheap... Here's a pic of the finished lining and bracing still in the mold, set up on the cnc table for levelling the top and bottom faces. I set up a cheap norton sanding disc, (happens to be 1/4" mandrel), manually set the z ht. and sand the face flat by running the same body outline toolpath. I turn the spindle speed down to 800 rpm and move at .5 ipm, very nice finished surface with no tear out of the fragile edges of the kerfed linings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 This isn't really about my archtop but does anyone else have lots of trouble with photobucket? Better than half the time (right now!) the site just disappears when I'm trying to move images. What else do you guys use for Gif format. photobucket was the only one I came up with ??? I've got lots more pics and I can't stand this! thanks, dkw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Try www.imageshack.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 I don't know if the problem is with the format, but I never had any problem with photobucket, and I'm using jpegs thought. Nice progress so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddler68 Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Man, truly inspiring! Your thoughtful documentation makes me want to build a hollowbody - and I don't even like hollowbodies! btw, Photobucket gives me some problems, too. Can't edit the pics once they're in my album. I always have to Photoshop them, change the filename and put them back in. If I don't change the filename, it puts the exact same unmodified picture back in there. Aggravating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Side faces are trued up, time to glue the top and bottom. Not quite, braces on the soundboard, I've been avoiding this. This is a complex carved fit across a changing curve and shouldn't be forced. The braces are then carved to shape using tap tones to "consolidate" the soundboard. Much discussion and theory on this, I don't know. I took some tips from other builders and just went for it. Parallel braces here, x braces on the next one to see(hear) the difference. If you are going to cut a p/u into the top be careful where the bracing aligns so you don't have to cut thru and re brace... (The compass plane is the coolest tool in my shop.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 (edited) Getting ready to glue up. The clamping caul, two pieces of 3/4" ply the inside pc is cut to a 1" wide profile. This provides clearance for the arch so clamping pressure is distributed around the edges. !/2" vinyl weather seal takes up any irregularities and helps make even contact all around. Edited May 21, 2005 by donald k wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Body sides in the form in the press ready to glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 And glue... One side at a time, the braces are still in the form to insure a square box. I'm still trying to decide whether to finish the inside or not. Much more debate on this subject as well. Photobucket is working fine today ?!?! thanks for your patience, dkw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meegs666 Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 amazing work bro. few dare to go for an archtop jazz box style. i applaud your bravery and the fact that it went so damn well. makes me wish i had the tools and expertise to build something so kick@$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 The top is "cat scratch spruce" available at most lumberyards commonly referred to as 2x4. I didnt want to screw up expensive tonewoods in the learning curve. sides and back are cherry I had lying around in the shop, neck too. The neck in the pic is pine just a prototype to test fit scale fretboard color... One of my favorite Benedetto's is an archtop he made from construction grade 2x10 pine, complete with knots. It's about as naked as a guitar can be. Simple transparent finish, no binding, no dot markers. I love the way it looks. The lesson learned in the book that featured it was to use what wood you have available to you. The guitar is more of a reflection of the luthier than the tone woods used. It looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Those old tools are the beast! I love old tools, they'll outlast everyone here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 I've made lots of mistakes along the way but most of them were caught in time and recovered. a couple of them will be proudly displayed...(I meant to do that!) Working slowly with a plan and some faith the thing will actually get done. The plane came from a friend, covered with rust, locked up and abused. Had been his grandfathers, used in a carriage shop. He gave it to me, to a good home. I love it. Thanks for the kind words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted May 22, 2005 Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 donald, that thing is looking excellent. hopefully after you finish this one up, you'll have the confidence to build one out of some nice woods... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 a.j. absolutely... I personally prefer plain presentation and tend to believe Jehle (and Benedetto) that ultimately it is the craftsmanship not the materials that make the guitar. That said, most people want to see (buy) something a little more polished. Here are a couple more pics of the top and bottom plates as they were being finished. This is the cherry back with the recurve area being cleaned up. The plane is an old Stanley rabbet plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 Here is the soundboard all cleaned up with a couple more of the tools I used. The spokeshave is Japanese, wood handle, rounded sole, really handy for working up and down the arch. It can also be modified to fit different curves if need be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2005 (edited) On to the neck, the laminations were laid out in the cad program to fit the board and toolpathed. these are the blanks being cut, cherry, 3 pc lamination 13/16 thick, finished dimension 2 7/16 cleaned up to 2 1/4. The cnc software has a tab function that leaves small "perforations" in the bottom cut so the pieces don't fly around as the piece releases, really handy. A quick pass with a router and flush trim bit cleans them up and on to clamping. Edited May 26, 2005 by donald k wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 26, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2005 Here is the neck in the clamps. the "cantilever" is added on later so you can cut the dovetail for the body joint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
american_jesus Posted May 27, 2005 Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 oh, i definately agree that it's not only the parts and wood that make the guitar, it's all about what goes in to it and the player behind it, but if you're using the nice components, then it just makes everything that much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meegs666 Posted May 27, 2005 Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 totally bad@$$ bro. when you start up one with the real deal in woods its so gonna own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald k wilson Posted May 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 I can't disagree, I'm just a sucker for a stray... I've got a pile of beautiful figured maple just looking for a home! Here is a picture of truing the neck surface square to the sides. This was important because I set up the fretboard on the neck so I need everything accurate. The cutter is an old version of safe-t-plane that is NOT safe, I run it on the cnc machine and keep the fingers on the Keyboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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