View Full Version : Building a prototype
I'm going to be building my #1 as soon as it cools down a bit more, maybe Sept/Oct. To pass the time I decided on doing a prototype. It's too dang hot to be planing wood so of all materials I chose styrofoam and cardboard. My family thinks I'm a nut but I haven't been too sure with my measurements for the sides and I figured a prototype with a styrofoam top and back with cardboard sides would save me some wood down the road. So this evening I sat at the dining room table carving and cutting. Anyway, I think cutting wood in the dining room would have made less of a mess.
c3hammer
Aug-06-2004, 1:51pm
Now just cover that styrofoam with some carbon fiber and epoxy and you'll be able to play it.
When you are completely finished with the composite parts, you can pour some paint thinner into the f-holes and melt out all the styrofoam. #Viola! #You have a wonderfull, hollow, one piece carbon fiber mando.
Don't think you're too nuts. #I actually have the styrofoam and carbon fiber leaning up against the wall in my shop ready to get going.
I do have a cnc machined mold already built for the tops and backs http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Cheers,
Pete
mandolooter
Aug-07-2004, 7:15am
I'd say no. You'll learn something during this process that will be helpful Im sure.
C3- I built surf-ski's (kayaks) for a few years when I lived in Hawaii and we used molds, kevlar, carbon fiber, etc. A bullet proof mando for those tough busking gigs on the bad side of town, hummm...ya might have something there. OK, back to reality...at Wintergrass I got a chance to pick on a caron fiber guitar, I don't think it was a Rainsong but my memory is kinda foggy. Im not a guitar player but the one thing I remember is it was loud. We wanna see it when your done! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
c3hammer
Aug-07-2004, 1:06pm
It was probably a CA guitar from Washington. I have had this plan to build a carbon mandolin for a few years since I first started to play.
I even molded a few carbon tops. One was sent to Martin Jacobsen (artdecomandolins on here) but I don't believe he ever built up one with it.
Some day I'll pull my head out and see if I can get one done.
Cheers,
Pete
krishna
Aug-07-2004, 5:44pm
There is no way you will not learn a bunch from this experiment. Please do keep us informed. # Kerry Also you just HAVE to keep a pictoral record of everything for the geeks like us.. So run right out ant get a 3 or 4 megapixle camera... then...