ScottR Posted March 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 In this case I cut the zebrawood into the ebony for several reasons. The first being it's location. I need to start out the out side edge becasue that is where my thickness reference mark is. Then as you mention, the zebrawood is finicky about the direction of your cut. Cut in the wrong direction and you get a nice chunk that split off along the the grain. I do want the piece to be shaped as if it were one piece of wood, so I do cut across the joint....but always from the zebrawood side. The blade coming out of zebra and into ebony follows the plane of the cut, it just doesn't bite as deep into the ebony. Coming from the other direction can give a bite that goes too deep into the zebrawood. Sanding is the opposite though. You've got to use a hard block and start everything with the ebony. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Now I always use hard sanding blocks when working on wood combos like we are talking about. Still all this is way better than working on ash.If you remember I like to use a grinder to do this sort of shaping. Rasps and some other toothy type devices are usually less likely to make a mess than a blade. So I commend you for going old skool because it is not easy at all to do what you do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 because it is not easy at all to do what you do. .....but it is fun. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris G Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Freaking Sweet!! Looks like something from Gwar. Love to look of the timbers. Great work!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Can wait to see that body carved... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Seriously. No, seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 RAD is pretty sure I have an infestation of rabid beavers in the area.... SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 They seem to be doing something right, whatever they've been drinking (or smoking). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 .....a smokin' rabid beaver......my, what a mental image you paint. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Zombeavers! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 I was having this exact discussion about crap movies elsewhere. We settled on Rubber. http://www.rubberthemovie.com/ Any movie that breaks the fourth wall as a satire and has a psychokinetic killer tyre as the antihero protagonist wins in my book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 (edited) I think I need to see that movie now. It sorta reminds me of this: I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (trailer in link) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbvqz-nv7Zw Edited March 27, 2015 by KnightroExpress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Nothing like a night at the movies.....but I've got work to do. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Obviously a fair amount of work wnt on between pic #3 and pic #4. A Dremel with a drum sanding attachment on a flex extension and regular sanding and scraping to clean that sucker up. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 It took a while..... But I did make it to the end of the day. And the next day we drilled for fret markers and side dots. I had a couple of minor chips and one blow out on the 24th fret. I filled that with epoxy and ebony dust just to fill the space. The fret will cover nearly all of it. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 I picked up a radius block from Lmii. It was 12" and radiused 16" on one side and 20" on the other and was cheaper than StewMac's and it said it was hardwood. Technically that was true, but the hardwood was Poplar......not an especially hard hardwood. I figure I'll use it to radius some Bubinga I have and then use that to turn my 14" acrylic block into 16" and 20" radius sanders. As it turns out, the poplar did a fine job with no damage. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 There is no redeeming value to this pic. I just like it. SR 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattharris75 Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Beautiful work, as usual, Scott. One question. Maybe I missed it, but what's the dot on the headstock about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Thanks Matt. The dot is pretty much like the big diamond earring you see some guys wear. Useless ornamentation ....but it gets noticed. It is really nothing more than a spot of color on the headstock. I like abalone, I don't enjoy inlaying and I've never seen a dot just used as a spot of color......on a headstock. I like it. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 I am digging the grain in that fretboard, with the subtle radius this will be a shred machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 Yeah, that was one of the most lively grained pieces of macassar I've ever run across. Polished up and in the right light it lights up like no piece of ebony has a right to. And I've still got enough left for at least one more fretboard. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 Did it gain that magical look like it's under glass? My seven-string has only a plain Indian Ebony board, but that polished up something magical. Those flecks you see in Ziricote seemed to be under the surface in that one. Good polished pieces blow the black stuff out of the water. Especially when its seen some black dye like many manufacturers.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted March 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 Yeah, it did. I'm a firm believer that a high polish makes at least some of the fibers in the grain so reflective that they just jump when the light hits them. Much more so than just sanding up to 400 or 600. And then put a nice coat of oil on them--mmmm-mmmm. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted March 31, 2015 Report Share Posted March 31, 2015 I think it is more or less the same as chatoyance in figured woods like Maple, but woods like Ebony and Ziricote seem to display spectacular flecking off the quarter. Polishing it up with compounds through to a little oil buffing turns it to glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris G Posted April 1, 2015 Report Share Posted April 1, 2015 Looking Good!! I am enjoying your thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.