What Part of the Building Process Do You Hate?

[Professor PT]

I am sitting here grading English essays thinking that I would have the perfect job if I didn't have to actually mark errors and make comments. Alas, that's my job! It's the part that I don't like, compared to lecturing/ inter-acting with students. So, builders, I am curious: are there parts of your job/hobby that you dislike? For example, do you love the building but hate the finishing stage? Do you ever think, man, if I have to scrape binding again, I'm going to go insane! Just curious...

[Rob Grant]

I don't hate it, but I do find intonating a saddle to be a general pain in the 'arse. I'm always amazed at how just when I think I've ground those ramps to perfection the bloody thing is out again!

[french guy]

bending a scroll is stressing for me , as put the finish .

[HoGo]

I hate when I have to refinish or repair finish on the mandolin because of some dumb mistake I did just before it's completely done.

[Chris Baird]

Yes, scraping the binding is not enjoyable. On whole I like the woodworking part a lot more than the finishing part.

[sunburst]

I probably hate bindings the most. Everything about them: cutting the channel, bending and mitering, scraping them down, and especially cleaning off the stain.
Next would probably be sanding, followed by the scroll in general.

I find that I mostly enjoy the beginning and end of the process of building a new instrument. I like the design ideas, selecting and milling the wood, seeing what appears to be rapid progress in the early stages.

I also like doing the final stages of set-up and hearing the potential of the instrument.

Everything in between is work to one degree or another. Some of it I enjoy and some of it I must tolerate in order to keep doing this. The most enjoyable part of the middle stages for me is probably carving the top.

[Magnus Geijer]

Binding. Everything about binding. When I'm done with the three I'm building at the moment I don't think I'll ever do them with binding again. Argh.

[Mario Proulx]

I hate packing them up and shipping them off.

Yes, I sometimes get a little attached to my work....

[Luthier Vandross]

Scraping binding, without a doubt.

If you start in a good mood, by the end, you are ready to kill someone.... if you start off in a bad mood, you are ready to kill someone.

Maybe I am just homocidal.. but I don't think so. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

M

[Gavin Baird]

Since I do all my graduation from rough machine carve to finish with a shaped scraper, this is by far the most difficult part for me. After I finish the outside to its final correct shape, the inside scraping and measuring to contour lines is a real hassle. A scraper removes what appears as a great deal but in fact is miniscule....G ..And my fingers hurt...I just finished a Birds Eye Maple one piece back that took me two days to finish to spec...

[Michael Lewis]

I stress out over the binding more than any other aspect, but still find it enjoyable. The part I don't like is that it takes so long to get started with the binding, but once begun, it goes well enough. As long as I don't have to worry about the time used up I find that most all of the various processes are "just another step toward completeing the instrument".

[Hans]

No question about it...it's the binding. I hate masking it off, because I know no matter how good of a job I do, it's going to bleed in places. I hate scraping it #cause my eyes start to cross after a while and I have to refocus constantly. The reward is after the first coat of varnish.
Cutting pearl is a close second. Have to wear a mask, and headphones because the suction from the vac is so loud, and just feel isolated for hours on end. Get very frustrated when I break a piece.

[Ron C]

Binding, binding , absolutely it's the binding that makes a luthier go mad. You guy's are right in that aspect, the binding is the most frustrating and the most beautiful when finished right, I have no other problems with the building or finishing of an instrument in general. If someone loves his work, he will get thru the construction with not to many headaches or growl's and produce a quality type instrument of beauty http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Jim Rowland]

I agree that binding an "F" model can be a hassle,but,for me,cutting,fitting,and,especially,the final slotting of the nut is the least pleasant operation. I cut them out of cow bone,and if I screw one up,it's back to the bandsaw and the belt sander when I'm inches away from completion. Going down ten thousandths too far can wreck it for me.
Jim

[mandough]

As I am builiding my first mandolin...the front and back plates were fun. The neck was challenging. So far, the bend on the side that has the scroll has been the most frustrating!

[Jim Rowland]

Mandough,although I am used to the uneasy equilibrium usually maintained by my Weebles,I arose this morning to find a couple of them holding a totally prostrate attitude.
Is this a bad omen?
Jim