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Johnno,

That neoprene washer comes in handy when you break down in Central Queensland and you need to use your mandolin to carry water. Struth, don't want a dribble through the endpin hole, now...

multidon wrote:
"Additionally, just like the old county store, the topics that create the lengthiest discussions are the topics that have been jawed to death time and time again already! But every...

Forgetting about tradition, Lloyd Loar, Gibson and what the market demands, what timbers would you choose to use for a top and back plate on an A or F style mandolin? Are there any native Oz timbers...

John of "Brisvagas" wrote:
"Hi Nigel you have a very smart daughter,hehehe."

Jeeeeeze' Johnno, don't be tellin' them our secrets. Bloody hell, they'll all wanta' move down here!<G>

By the way,...

Bradklein wrote:
"I'm not sure how you get any yakka done with that sheep flailing about."

Sorry mate, I don't do Kiwi jokes. I got too many mates over the Tasman.<G>

QUESTION FOR STEVE:

Mate, what the bloody hell are ya' doin' down in Vic when all the good instrument timber, decent grog and spunky Sheilas are up here in the "Sunshine State." Even though...

I invested in a half dozen of those expensive nut files when I first became interested in this game. For some reason none of them are exactly the guage I currently use on my mandolins and mandolas....

John wrote: "Paint the whole thing black!"

Seriously, John's spot on with this suggestion.

I had a nice sounding spruce top with some minor cosmetic faults. I had spent so much time carving...

John wrote: "BTW, a well done, properly annealed weld is not brittle."

True words John, but the problem is "properly" annealing a weld on a long thin high carbon steel blade like that used on a...

I buy 100 metre rolls of blade here in Oz and silver braze the joint with a homemade jig. I've made up dozens of "custom" length blades this way without problems. A good silver braze will often...

Ebony! What ebony? Looks like dyed pearwood or persimmon to me.<G>

FWIW: I couldn't seem to get an original set of tyres for my 'ol Atlas bandsaw, so I just contact cemented a strip of thick, old fashion rubber linoleum to the wheel surface. The stuff is cheap as...

Great looking bandsaw!

Althought not nearly as visually exciting or well built and powerful, my old 1940's Yank Atlas has one thing going for it when it comes to cutting up timber for mandolins......

Been there, done that<G>

You can fix this problem by cross laminating a reinforcing patch between the soundhole and the headblock on the inside of the top. There is no need to remove the top,...

I once had reservations about binding until a bit of helpful correspondence years ago with Oz luthier Peter Coombe convinced me of its value and beauty. Now, it's actually one of my favorite parts of...

Just a question... I note that the bridge has a maple base and an ebony saddle. There isn't a chance that the saddle is inserted in a milled slot and it can be removed and shimmed like a guitar. I...

Do you mean the adjusting nut and the pocket (in the headstock) is full of glue and wood shavings? If so, would it be possible to heat up the tool used to adjust the nut and push it on to the...

I've successfully used methanol or "metho" as a shellac solvent for years without any problems with my health or the final finish. I do recommend you use rubber gloves so you don't absorb the...

Have a squizz at Peter Coombe's website ( http://www.petercoombe.com/). As far as I know, he always/mainly uses native timber bindings on his beautiful instruments. I imagine if it's native, nice...

Peter, I tried using Endiandra palmerstonii (Queensland Black Walnut) for binding and it's not very compliant. It tends to split more then bend even when properly heated or steamed. My favorite...

I always bind the soft top plates, but not the back plate where I often use a timber that is tougher then any natural or synthetic binding material.

Here's an example with belt-buckle-bashing...

Jeeeze', you might need a wool press to take that thing (the burger) down to an edible height!<G>

I just fire up the chainsaw when the stupid questions start to flow... the ensuing racket covers up the screams!<G>

Peter (AKA "Blackheathen"),

Beautiful piece of work; and only numero uno??!!

Very pleasing to the eye (and probably the ear too!).

Congrads,
Rob
FarOutNorthQueensland,Oz

"Baby talk"??!!

I've got no problems with 'da 'ol Padma's speech. I've spent enough time with the traditional indigenous cattle ringers up here on the Cape (York) that it almost seems like me...