avengers63 Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I'm on extended sick leave (75% pay) because I have a three foot long blood clot in my left leg. I didn't think they could get that big. I HAVE to be up and mobile for 10-15 minutes per hour, and that isn't possible driving a bus, so here I am with a TON of time to kill. What's a luthier to do. acoustic #2 mahogany back & sides (mostly) cedar bracing & kerfing spruce top douglas fir neck I haven't decided on the fretboard & bridge yet. I might go completely off the reservation and use rock maple. We know that structurally there is no reason not to use it. It wouldn't look "right" on an acoustic, but that's only because we're not used to seeing it. But we'll just wait and see. Today and tomorrow I'm milling all of the lumber. When it's all done, I'll pose some pics and begin construction. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Sorry 'bout your leg. That stinks. I'll be watching this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Dang! I hope your clot issue is resolved quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Bad news about the clot, make sure to look after that. May I ask why use Spruce bracing if using a Cedar top? I'm not a "acoustic" guy, but it's my understanding that the bracing should match the top so it moves/expands etc at the same rate. The kerf, back strips etc not as important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 I've not been able to get a solid reason as to why the bracing/kerfing should be the same wood as the top. If it's a consistent movement, then why not insist that the entire box be the same wood? Why wouldn't it be important for the bracing/kerfing to match the wood for the back/sides? In my mind, the lack of consistency throughout the box defeats the argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 The top on an acoustic is under a lot of stress which can pop the bracing off, the back and sides don't have this pressure pulling at it, this is why. Think of the neck and strings as a lever, as well as the top having to vibrate consistently, the kerf does not have to match, it just has to hold the top to the sides. The bridge plate does not have to match, but the rest of the top bracing should. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff St. Germaine Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 I don't see any reason that the top and kerfing wood should be the same. I've used kerfing that was the the species as the top (Sitka spruce) as well as different from both the top and sides/back. I don't see any reason that one way is better than the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 .........and then my planer craps out on me. Because of course it would right now. :/ Oh well. It was a $200 Ryobi that I bought prolly 6 years ago. All things considered, I guess I got my money out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetterOffShred Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Uh oh.. That's what I'm using. I hope it's got more life in it! Any plans to get a new one ? -Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Gotta wait and see. SWMBO and I made an agreement: any purchases over $100 get discusssed first. It's essential at this point so there won't be any issues, but I need to honor the agreement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Uh oh.. That's what I'm using. I hope it's got more life in it! Any plans to get a new one ? -Brett Dont worry, they last forever if you take care of them and you dont push them to cut more than they should. I have had mine 2007 and have put probably 2000 board feet of wood through it. Probably more. I have pushed it hard and it is still going just fine. Had to replace the blades i think 4 times (double sided) but other than that it is great for the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Got it all sorted out. I'll have the Ryobi up and running next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I was able to get it going yesterday afternoon, so today I was able to mostly finish milling the lumber. sides, 25" scale fretboard and material for bridge I went with guyana rosewood for the fb/bridge/headplate. I will do one in maple... eventually. spruce top I came up with a helper. See, I'm terribly inaccurate when resawing lumber. I can't make anything resembling an even verticle cut to save my live unless the piece is over 2" wide.What I did was make a jig to attach to the circular saw so that I have a 1/4" wide channel cut around the entire board. This makes it easier to run it through the bandsaw. I actually create less waste this way than doing it by hand. As my bandsaw is only 6 7/8" tall, I cannot make a 2-piece back that is 16" wide. This is my vision of a 3-piece back. I've seen it on other factory acoustics, so I have -zero- qualms about doing this. 2 back zippers and 2 interior braces should take care of everything. kerfing and bracing material milled and ready to be cut douglas fir neck blank I'm not 100% sold that I'll be using this for the neck. Other options are leftover mahogany and some white walnut I got for free. Now that this is all ready to go, I believe I'm done for the day. Tomorrow is football, so I'll start construction Monday. I'm planning on doing something fun with the scroll saw for the inlays and soundhole(s). Something Japanese themed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Sweet! I really like the FB wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 I'm NOT doing the doug fir neck. It'll be pinstriped mahogany. The soundhole, 12th fret inlay, and headstock decoration will be Japanese cranes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 TODAY: top plate glued sides planed to final thickness 1st side in the bender, left overnight to let the wood set into shape neck blank glued theme and images finalized Not an overly productive day, but good enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted September 23, 2014 Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 Pics dammit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 What's so interesting about wood in the clamps? The only "glue-up" pic I feel is mandatory is the "every clamp you can fit on" when the f/b is being glued on. Not sure why. Anyway, today I plan on bending the other side, leveling & scarfing the neck, and prolly starting to glue the back together. We'll see if there's time for more - I have to work on one of SWMBO's projects too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2014 2nd side bend and setting overnight neck scarfed, ash scarf accent in the clamps p1 pf the blac glued up After I got the geometery of the back joints laid out, the trick was cutting the middle triangle 1) without tearout and 2) a jointed seam. This was my solution. double-side tape a board with a freshly-jointed edge along the line, cut off the extra, and use a trim bit to joint the edge And the neck blank in all it's glory: mahogany from the same boards as the back/sides with ash pinstripes. The extra length of pinstripes on both ends eliminates planer snipe when it's being leveled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 headstock in the clamps 2nd side bent 1st set of kerfing in the bender - Yes, I like the idea of pre-bending the kerfing. It's an extra step now, but I just know that it'll make installing them a lot easier. back glued soundhole rosette installed - I went with the same guyana rosewood I'm using for the f/b & bridge. Note that the back isn't cleaned up yet and that I'll have to clean up the dent I put in the bracing. As for the crane theme..... soundhole headstock 12th fret (sideways, along the length) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 After a middle-of-the-week road trip and 1 1/2 dats working on one of SWMBO's time-wasting projects, I was able to chip away at the bracing stage just a little bit. I gotta figure out a better way to glue on the bracing without making a go-bar setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2014 top bracing roughed out back bracing glued on soundhole decoration prepped for cutting Tomorrow I'll be spending some quality time with some rasps, files, and my beloved scrollsaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 There's a well-spent two hours! I have a good amount of cleanup to do, but the really time consuming part is done. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 That impresses me. I can carve a little, but I can't drive my scrollsaw like you can drive yours. Very nice. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avengers63 Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I started to work on gluing up the body, but I didn't get far. When I planed the sides down, I accidentally took it to .06". I was a bit concerned that it was too thin. As it was too late to do anything about it, I concluded "Fook it. Too late to do anyrhing about it. Let's hope for the best and see what happens. Apparently, this is what happens. I chose to honor the spirits of those who came before me and partake in their sacred rite. So then this happened.... Nothing left to do now but get some more lumber and not take them that thin again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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