Length of Time for a Build

**Chuck Naill** · Feb-01-2010, 4:58pm

If you have all the materials and no distractions, how long does it take you to build a mandolin, either style? A guitar builder once told me it takes him 55 hours including dry time.

Thanks all!

**Lefty Luthier** · Feb-01-2010, 5:29pm

Depends on the number being built at once. I generally build in pairs with starts about every 6 weeks. From start to finish, I take about 70 hours for the pair, assuming no unusual binding or inlay tasks. Depending on weather, the 70 hours is spread over from 3 to 5 months. In an extreme case with complex binding, very detailed inlays and unusual tuning, I took nearly 300 hours over 6 months to build a mandocello.

**barry k** · Feb-01-2010, 6:47pm

Guess it depends on if CNC is being used. All hand work takes 100 hours for an "A" , 110 for a 2 point, 150 for a fully bound "F". estimated
Final sanding and finish work take the most time for me. When you build 2 at a time you dont save building time, but allows you to proceed work while you wait for dry time on the other. Wet sanding or final sanding 2 mandos a time will take the steam out of you. My 150 hours per are spred out over 6 weeks, a lot of wait time when your painting. When you figure it all out, I probably make $1.50 an hour, gotta love it.

**JEStanek** · Feb-01-2010, 8:11pm

Here is an old very well debated thread on the subject.

55 Hours may be good for a flat top guitar builder who has tools and experience. Don Kwalek leads a weekend course where folks assemble a flat top mandolin. An Arch top mandolin that is fully bound will take much longer, even more so if you're talking an F5. Take a look through the old thread and you'll see a wide range of times but I can't recall if any were as short as 55 hours.

Jamie

**Jim Kirkland** · Feb-01-2010, 10:56pm

Originally Posted by barry k

Guess it depends on if CNC is being used. All hand work takes 100 hours for an "A" , 110 for a 2 point, 150 for a fully bound "F". estimated
Final sanding and finish work take the most time for me. When you build 2 at a time you dont save building time, but allows you to proceed work while you wait for dry time on the other. Wet sanding or final sanding 2 mandos a time will take the steam out of you. My 150 hours per are spred out over 6 weeks, a lot of wait time when your painting. When you figure it all out, I probably make $1.50 an hour, gotta love it.

Kinda like being in the Army?

**Rolfe** · Feb-02-2010, 6:45am

55 hours sounds good although I can't really nail it down. I build parts in large batches and grab them off the shelf as needed. The CNC does save considerable time for tops, backs, and necks. But finishing is the real time hog not even counting finish curing time.

**Hans** · Feb-02-2010, 7:12am

An F5C will take me around 200-225 hrs. The cheapest F5 that I make will run around 150 hrs and an A will run anywhere from 80-170 hrs. Depends on the trim and finish folks...

**Chuck Naill** · Feb-02-2010, 7:26am

Originally Posted by Rolfe

55 hours sounds good although I can't really nail it down. I build parts in large batches and grab them off the shelf as needed. The CNC does save considerable time for tops, backs, and necks. But finishing is the real time hog not even counting finish curing time.

Producing the parts in large batches makes sense, Rolfe. Thank you for your reply.

**grandcanyonminstrel** · Feb-03-2010, 8:58pm

I used to build two complete mandolins every day before lunch when I worked the production lines for________ in their small factory. On the other end of the spectrum, I probably push close to 400 hours for a more complex fanned fret ten string type built all by hand in my own shop.

j.
www.condino.com

**Dennis Davis** · Feb-03-2010, 9:34pm

I always quote 300 hrs for an f-5. I think that number is reasonable and at the same time keeps the pressure off. I know I am probably slow and my shop is not set up as well as some but I think it is better not to be too optomistic about the time for the customers sake and also for the builder.

Also, the type of neck joint used and the thickness of the sides may have something to do with the time. I use a compound dovetail neck joint and .090 thickness sides.

Dennis Davis

**Darryl Wolfe** · Feb-03-2010, 10:49pm

I've been working on two F models and six A models for for 15 years... does that count

**Darryl Wolfe** · Feb-03-2010, 11:01pm

Seriously, From what I have seen in my 40 yr experience, most luthiers complete what they start out to accomplish within 90 days/3 months. Whether it be a batch of 4 or a single mandolin. The number of hours involved, I would guess 80-120 hrs per. Whether it is one or many...it take a long time to get from point A to B in days. The minimum I believe is 60-90 days. That does not mean that I don't think a good builder could not produce a lacquer finished mandolin in less than 25 days if he had nothing else to do

**sunburst** · Feb-03-2010, 11:04pm

Yeah, that counts, Darryl.

I don't know how much time I have in a mandolin these days. Back when I worked for_______ (the factory), I built a few F5s by hand and punched the time clock whenever I was working on mandolins. I came up with about 90 hours per f5. I'm not even close to that these days for several reasons, not the least of which is I'm simply more careful with certain aspects of construction, and I'm usually starting with wood that is not as processed. In other words, If I start by resawing the tops backs and sides rather than starting with processed top back and side blanks, that takes longer. I've even started with trees, so it's hard to get an accurate time per mandolin.

**Chuck Naill** · Feb-04-2010, 9:47am

Originally Posted by sunburst

Yeah, that counts, Darryl.

I don't know how much time I have in a mandolin these days. Back when I worked for_______ (the factory), I built a few F5s by hand and punched the time clock whenever I was working on mandolins. I came up with about 90 hours per f5. I'm not even close to that these days for several reasons, not the least of which is I'm simply more careful with certain aspects of construction, and I'm usually starting with wood that is not as processed. In other words, If I start by resawing the tops backs and sides rather than starting with processed top back and side blanks, that takes longer. I've even started with trees, so it's hard to get an accurate time per mandolin.

John,

If you wanted to, could you produce ten F5's in one year if the wood was processed?

What is the negatives in trying to produce this many instruments? Does the quality automatically suffer as the number produced increases or is there a beneficial affect?

**sunburst** · Feb-04-2010, 11:05am

If I didn't do repairs, build other instruments and do other things, I could probably build 10 or more F5s in a year, but I don't think I'd like it. I'm certain the quality wouldn't suffer at that pace, and my efficiency would probably improve through more familiarity.
I don't like repetitive tasks; I feel like a factory worker if I build mandolins in batches bigger than 2, so I think my enjoyment of building would diminish, and I know from experience that joints and muscles suffer from to much repetition. I may get my shop organized enough for that kind of output eventually, but I want to keep enough variation in my routine to maintain my mental and physical health.

**Chuck Naill** · Feb-04-2010, 11:18am

Thank you, John. I like your style.

**Jerry Haynes** · Feb-04-2010, 12:42pm

Around 200 hours. Give or take a few, over 4 months or so. Throw out the days that things just don't go right, throw out most of December, all of Jan and Feb and about half of March. Took an order in Nov. , will be ready in June. Like most bears, I tend to hibernate. Jerry

**Steve Hinde** · Feb-04-2010, 1:39pm

I estimate about 200 o 250 hours for an F, depending on binding etc, 150 for an A and about 120 for an acoustic guitar. I agree with John, I mix it up for variety and order influences. I have electric and acoustic guitars in various stages, along with the mandolins and resonators, and repairs. I have basically the weekends available for construction, providing life stays out of the shop (kids, wife, dog, homework from the day job, sleep). My problem is starting too many different things. But, right now I am cleaning up all the leftovers from the last 6 years, and starting fresh. With the learning curve, there is some rework to do, when you find an older project that just isn't good enough. I have managed to finish 3 per year. I like the system of having the option of doing what I feel like when I get down there though. If I feel like cutting binding miters, or finger boards, or inlays, or headstocks, or carving a top or back, or finishing steps, that is what I do that particular weekend. On top of that, when I get an order for something, it moves up to the front. Then factor in the weather for spraying lacquer, things get put aside for 6 months. Then if I want to hit a festival , or SPBGMA, or IBMA, or simply take a day off............

**PJ Doland** · Feb-04-2010, 2:04pm

If finishing is such a time hog, I don't understand why more builders don't offer (significantly) less expensive models with satin finishes.

Some of us actually prefer them and I would think it would be a win/win.

**delsbrother** · Feb-04-2010, 3:13pm

**JEStanek** · Feb-04-2010, 6:15pm

pjdoland, Practically all builders will offer models with less trim and less frills. Those aren't the ones they primarily advertise since they don't earn the bigger bucks or the glory. If you find a builder who makes instruments you really like and your budget approximates their instruments start a conversation with them about a budget minded instrument built just for you.

Jamie

PS, I would be remiss if I didn't add, that a builder will have the same quality of sound in a less ornate instrument than a more ornate one. It is, after all, their name on the headstock. Just so I was being clear... I don't think any of the small shop builders want to make a budget instrument that sounds less than their more labor intensive builds.

**devonmandoman** · Feb-11-2010, 7:54am

I started a carved rosewood A in January 2000, finished it in January 2009.....
I did a few other things in between; hope the next one doesn't take that long, I/ it could be pushing up daisies.....

**grandcanyonminstrel** · Feb-12-2010, 11:03am

I built a beautful 3/4 size fully carved double bass a couple of years ago. The entire time I was fantasizing about how fast and easy bulding a mandoln was....

j.
www.condino.com

**Lefty Luthier** · Feb-12-2010, 5:11pm

The real time savers for constructing any arch topped instrument is CNC machining and good fixtures. What would take me 40 hours by hand is easily done in 4 hours with automation. That unfortunately does not transfer to binding and finishing. I actually spend far more time tuning an instrument than any other part of the process followed by binding and finishing with construction a distant last.

**robinphil** · Feb-12-2010, 5:34pm

My first was a carved F-- Maple & spruce about 300 hours including all jigs & fixtures. The second is edging into 200 hours, but a carved A-- including jigs etc-- what I didn't figure was the extra time carving locust vs Maple-- Phil