Search:

adding another one to the bench to start up

132376

132377

Got my first one about 10 years ago. Handmade from PR. Great little instrument. What's interesting is handmade ones from PR are traditionally made from a single block of wood. Seriously old school. ...

was away for a bit but back on it a little today.

was able to take off the tape from the back side binding (pic 1 & 2).

the next step according to instructions are to glue the nut however the...

couple things today.

the dulcimer kit came so i received the extra binding i need to finish the bottom of the bouzouki so i took care of that (pic 1).

took the clamps off today on the fretboard...

i am Rob! a little disappointed here and there but probably just my OCD lol. i am totally amazed that i got this far :)
thanks for the encouragement!

ok today it was reinforced that i should glue on the neck before shaping, fretting, etc. lol. i glued on the neck today using the nail under the fretboard method (pic 1) but was still off a smidge...

I am a total amateur but here is what i have:

131946
131947
131945

took the binding tape off today (pic 1-3). in pic 3 closeup you can see glue bled out and yellowed the wood. i take it i just sand this off so i used 150 grit and sanded out the yellow. most of it...

for tonight i wound up attempting to round out the end of the fretboard by the soundhole. i also went back to trying some fret filing. finally i glued the binding on the top half.

1st was round...

question: as i stated previously i have to sand down the fretboard a bit to fit the neck so i used the extra space to try out filing frets. as you can see in pic 1 i am not happy with my results. i...

question: in pic 1 i took the supplied binding and wrapped a single piece around where it would go on the bouzouki. if you look on right side you see where it would end. same goes for left side. i...

ok so today i took the plunge and did my 1st routing ever lol. that machine is a godsend! of course i can see how it can screw things up pretty fast too. that being said the benefits are awesome...

been snowed in for awhile. today i was finally able to get back at it a little. i am agonizing over the routing binding channels. i got the bosch 1/4" router but then i notice in the paper that...

now on the original back cutout never fully covered the heel (pic 1). i have some strips of back left from when i was trying to saw it off that i could use a single piece there. or should i get...

so i used the belt sander to get it down to 1/8" and used a blade to chisel down and finally sanded with 80 and then i believe it was 150. so now i have the tops flat to the sides. i believe this...

in the meantime i tried using the saw (pic 3) to cut off excess before routing. i think i will need something like a jeweler saw though for this (wonder if i can use medium blade or need something...

clamps are off! now i start getting nervous. router ordered and on the way. once i get it on to binding... :eek:
i have never used a router in my life. of course i will test on scrap wood first...

Thanks Colin! What a reply. Not sure how to respond other than humbly with a great big thanks!!!
Being that I am part Irish (fam traced to County Cavan) I felt the need to try out an Irish...

Thanks Rob! i went through you're build thread and what a beast that was :)
That bad boy looked like a giant compared to mine!
Hope she's still playing well!

1. ok i tapered the braces off a bit more (pic 1) as suggested somewhere else since they will not run all the way to the end. i left a little bit on the end but i did shave them down quite a bit at...

thanks everyone. i believe the top was solid also. i can tell on the back if i look at it from the side it is i guess you would call it 3ply. there are 2 veneers same wood on outsides and a...

Thanks everyone! I'll continue as is :)
How can I tell if the top is lam? Could it be 1 ply since it is thin? If so how to tell if it's lam vs solid? Just by seeing if the wood grain runs through or...

thanks guys. it is that kit from them Rob :)

so i glued the x-brace on however i have some questions maybe someone is willing to answer.

1. usually when i see a build the braces are snug tight...

so the kerfing is done. hand sawing all 4 pieces took a bit of time and patience. i found i got a rhythm over time but by then i was halfway done anyways. also the cuts on handsaw cannot be as...

i am doing the kerfing by hand. i don't recommend it lol. what a Pita. i marked all 1/4" and saw them by hand. then before i glue them in i put a little water on the cut side to make the wood...