curtisa Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 Local supplier where I get my carbon fibre rods: http://www.carbonfiber.com.au/prod82.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted April 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 Thank you! I'm going to use 0.125"x0.325" pultruded rods from Dragonplate, found here. This will be my first time using carbon fiber as a neck reinforcement, so I don't think I'm qualified to offer advice on what suppliers to pick. I've heard good things about Dragonplate's quality from a few reputable builders, so I decided to give them a go. And thanks for chiming in @curtisa, I was actually just about to suggest that he contact you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 Thanks Curtisa and Knightro! I'll check it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 For future reference: by cross-section, I-beams are stiffer than rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 A quick shot of mineral spirits as I step through the grits. I can't wait to get some oil on this guitar! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Are you going the Odie's Oil route again? I'm hoping that the monster end grain pores don't drink all of your expensive product right up. I can see them staring riiiiight at me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Yep, it'll be Odie's again. I don't think I'll have any major issues, a little bit of this stuff goes a long way! I ought to send you one of their little 2oz sampler jars... I'd be interested in your thoughts on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Sure. I'm unsure on whether the import duty percentage is less on wood finishing products or "personal lubricants". I think it'll look great on Wengé. The only thing I've noticed is that some oils and finishes reduce the contrast between the early and latewood growth ring colours. I can hardly see that being an issue with yours if that's how it looks under spirits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 I think it'll look pretty good, but I suppose we'll see what happens when we get there. On a side note, a friend wanted to try something fun on a laser cutter so now I have a QS wenge fretboard for one of the 8s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 Hey knightro how's wenge in terms of workability? I heard it's hard to work with and you often get splinters which can easily become septic. Besides the unfortunate incidents with your necks how do you find wenge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 I don't find wenge terribly difficult to work, it just takes a bit of consideration and understanding of its properties. The grain is very coarse and absolutely will tear out if you don't follow it properly. There's a big difference in hardness between the light and dark wood so blocks are necessary at all times when sanding. The splinters do tend to be pretty painful, though I haven't gotten one in a while. Overall, if you have a bit of a plan and pay attention to how it's reacting as you work, you'll be fine! This is actually pretty true for any wood (exotic or otherwise) you'll come across...just spend a little bit of time learning and test on scraps before digging in to your actual project. A bit of forethought and knowledge makes everything work better. Side note: as a result of steaming apart several wenge items, I now know that hot wenge smells like a slightly burnt chocolate croissant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 The problem with the splinters is that they don't go in or come out cleanly. That leaves debris in your wetbag which your blood happily throws a protest over. I think it's great on necks. I love the coarse texture because your hand hangs up less. Great for laminations too in terms of their contribution to the neck response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 Quartersawn Wengé is a little more bland in comparison to the cathedral presentation of the flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 Yes! As Carl says, wenge feels great as a neck and it has a very vibrant and responsive feel in terms of transmitting vibrations. I actually prefer the look of quartered wenge to flat in neck lams, but the opposite for a top.... which I suppose is pretty apparent when you look at this guitar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 That's the way to do it though. Quartered in a neck and fingerboard is just better sense. I got a great combination out of genuine Mahogany and Wengé with an Indian Ebony board. Really really nicely tied together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 Mmm chocolate croissants... Ah ok hopefully when my wenge top arrives it won't be hard to work with. I do like quarter sawn for the necks. They have a nice, straight appearance. Thanks for the input guys! Also I've not seen anyone do this but what do you think of grain filling wenge with a light grain filler? Imagine the contrast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 1, 2016 Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 Andrew, does the wedge splinter like padouk? Or worse? I love working with padouk but there have been a couple times I scared the hell out of myself due to splintering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted May 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2016 @SIMpleONe89 Any time! Just take your time and everything will work out fine. Also, I've not tried a light grain fill on wenge, but it could look interesting... do a test and post some pics! @2.5itim Padauk is brittle, but not super coarse-grained like wenge. I'd say wenge is a bit worse to deal with in that regard. Not horrible though. New wood day! I got a great deal on this huge maple board and purpleheart body blank. Both of these will be used in my headless 8 series. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Nice! Looking forward to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 A Purple Heart body blank? Wow that things gonna have some weight to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted May 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Yeah, hopefully being thin and headless will counter PH's anchor-like tendencies. If it ends up too heavy, I'll just have to try something else. It was too cheap to pass up! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Either way, Purple Heart is a gorgeous wood. I can't wait to see it body shaped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Yep, Purpleheart is definitely doing the monster mass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 That maple board looks stunning... probably the coolest one I've seen in my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Sanding continues on the limba/wenge guitar, but that's no fun to take pics of. In the meantime, check this out: Figured maple body, Yucatan rosewood neck 1 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.