Popular Post ScottR Posted December 7, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 I started another project a few weeks back, and for the first time I am reprising one of my original designs; from the #4 has an F-hole build. That was my first GOTM winner, and the only one I have that my wife says I cannot get rid of. I'm sure there will be some modifications, but we'll start with the same pattern and see where it goes. This one will have a sapele body, a zebra wood top, and a neck that's zebra wood, with a Katalox center spine. Really hard, stiff stuff that is, I think it is around 3660 on the janka scale. This build is likely to have several interruptions along the way, but it will keep me amused between interruptions. I skipped the prep and body glue up shots and went straight to the neck sandwich glue up. I decided to cut a shelf for the nut below the level of the fretboard. This will add a Fender like drop off plus a headstock angle which should give plenty of breakover angle for the strings. I like the pattern and colors after cutting the headstock angle. It's almost too bad there will be a headstock cap of Katalox to cover that up. Body cut out....but not quite ready to play yet. SR 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 Excellent for so many reasons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 Subscrib'd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpcustomguitars Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 Looking forward to this!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 9 hours ago, ScottR said: I like the pattern and colors after cutting the headstock angle. It's almost too bad there will be a headstock cap of Katalox to cover that up. What about a zebrano headstock cap matching the top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 That neck is going to look gorgeous when it's carved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 2 hours ago, psikoT said: What about a zebrano headstock cap matching the top? what about no headstock cap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 3 hours ago, psikoT said: What about a zebrano headstock cap matching the top? That is a possiblity, I will be looking at. My builds tend to be a little bit fluid with the details. I let the guitar tell me what it wants and tend to make decisions on the fly. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 58 minutes ago, pan_kara said: what about no headstock cap? Also a possibility to consider. This will take some reconstruction to pull off though. I have set up the ledge for the nut to use the headstock cap as the back edge of the slot. I'd have to mill the surface of the headstock down a little and move the nut location down the neck a little and route a new slot with a rear lip. Certainly nothing that cannot be done at this stage. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 6 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: Excellent for so many reasons 6 hours ago, curtisa said: Subscrib'd 3 hours ago, gpcustomguitars said: Looking forward to this!!! 2 hours ago, Norris said: That neck is going to look gorgeous when it's carved Thanks guys. You are making some mighty kind comments about something just barely past the pile of lumber stage. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pan_kara Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 5 hours ago, ScottR said: Also a possibility to consider. This will take some reconstruction to pull off though. I have set up the ledge for the nut to use the headstock cap as the back edge of the slot. I'd have to mill the surface of the headstock down a little and move the nut location down the neck a little and route a new slot with a rear lip. Certainly nothing that cannot be done at this stage. SR true, but is that really really necessary? I mean supporting (blocking) the nut from the tuners' side. I went and took a look at my guitars - I have a high end Mayones and there appears to be nothing on the headstock except paint (so there might be a tiny ledge created). On my Etna build I just cut a ledge in the fingerboard (it was so thick that resting the nut on the neck itself would have made it too low. Clearly there are ways around this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 15 minutes ago, pan_kara said: true, but is that really really necessary? No, not at all. Between the string pressure and a drop of glue, it's not going anywhere. Don't Gibson nuts just sit on a ledge behind the fretboard? I honestly don't know if their headstock caps make a back edge against the nut or not. It's more about changing the plan I had.....and I do that all the time, or at least plan some of the details as I go. Do you really think that pattern would look good on the headstock? I think it is striking looking, but that would be the only place that pattern would show up...except that it would look similar on the back of the headstock as well. The stripes would continue on into the neck where they are not broken by the carve. It is definitely something to consider. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted December 7, 2017 Report Share Posted December 7, 2017 20 hours ago, ScottR said: for the first time I am reprising one of my original designs One version of your design is a custom build. Two versions is practically a production run. You've sold out, man 1 hour ago, ScottR said: Do you really think that pattern would look good on the headstock? I say get your headstock rough cut to shape and hold up your nominated headplate over the top to see how it looks one way or t'other. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 8, 2017 Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 11 hours ago, curtisa said: One version of your design is a custom build. Two versions is practically a production run. You've sold out, man 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2017 17 hours ago, curtisa said: One version of your design is a custom build. Two versions is practically a production run. You've sold out, man I feel so dirty... SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu. Posted December 10, 2017 Report Share Posted December 10, 2017 On 08/12/2017 at 3:31 PM, ScottR said: I feel so dirty... SR Just don't go mentioning CNC next! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2017 Unless running a CNC is as much fun as carving with chisels and gouges, they are pretty safe from me. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 On 12/6/2017 at 6:40 PM, ScottR said: This build is likely to have several interruptions along the way, but it will keep me amused between interruptions. And right off the bat one of those interruptions rears its head. I got my brother in law a knife kit for Christmas. In this case that consisted of a blade. Instead of giving him a kit consisting of a blade, I figured I would use some of my fancy off-cuts an build the knife's handle too. First I used the blade to line up a drill the bolster holes into the blade stock. Then I cut the stock down into scales. I also got some brass rod for the bolsters. I had to chuck it up in the drill press and sand it just a bit to allow it just a smidge of play in the steel handle. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 If the bolsters do not have any play, that may not seat into the handle at perfect right angles, which would have made lining up the bolsters with the holes on both scales nigh on impossible. Bench vises are handy to have around... I squeezed a bit of CA in there, to seal the deal....as it were, and continued to turn the handle on the vise. After gripping the blade somewhat nonchalantly, I decided to cover the edge with some heavy tape. It was also useful to protect the steel from the shaping tools... ...which began as a drum sander bit on a dremel and finished with 80 grit on a sanding stick. And then followed up with finish sanding. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ScottR Posted December 12, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 12, 2017 I decided that it might be a long time before I got another opportunity to make a headstock as unique as this one, so I think I'll forego the cap.....unless I decide it just doesn't work after the guitar has been assembled, at which point I shall likely curse and thrash about as I add a cap to a fully shaped headstock, which will be entirely more difficult. towards that end I removed the ledge I had created for the nut and will cut a new one after the fretboard has been located. I added a few coats of Tru-oil to the handle. It darkened the ziricote a bit, but should protect it from whatever mess my brother in law may subject it to. You may have noticed that I also have cut the top. I am itching to cut the fretboard, but am waiting for some new bandsaw blades that should have arrived but appear to be caught up in the holiday package delivery log jam.I had some bridge height corrections to make on the mandolin because I didn't take into account how much thickness I would lose while flattening the gluing surfaces of the top and body. While I'm waiting for new bandsaw blades I am preparing those surfaces prior to determining my neck angle and tenon depth. Cheers! SR 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 Nice work on the knife, Scott I like the plan for an unplated headstock - should look spectacular. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 The blade on that knife is quite something, by the way. I saw a clip of how the layers of steel are built up on these types of blade - awe inspiring stuff.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 (edited) 4 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: The blade on that knife is quite something, by the way. I saw a clip of how the layers of steel are built up on these types of blade - awe inspiring stuff.... There was a program on BBC4 a while back that was fascinating - possibly helped by a complete lack of dumbed down dialogue, just the craftsman at work making a damascus knife http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3vfQq8Lrwy4rhgYLVrXBPpS/how-artist-blacksmith-and-bladesmith-owen-bush-forges-a-modern-damascus-knife Edit: It's still on iPlayer for fellow UKers Lovely work on the handle @ScottR Edited December 13, 2017 by Norris 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 We've got a show over here called "Forged in Fire" on the History Channel that features 4 bladesmiths competing to make knives or swords....the final two compete to make historical weapons, that often require them to make folded steel first. Fascinating stuff. I have always wanted a Damascus bladed knife and still don't have one. I suppose I should get a kit for myself. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted December 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 I was a little surprised that the layers were not visible on the honed part of the blade. I assume that's normal.... SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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