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Journeybear, Thanks for the reply. Darn, I am leaving way too early next Sunday.. I don't think we will make it down to Key West this trip, but if we do, I will try to make it on Thursday and will...

So I'm getting to visit the Florida Keys for spring break 2011. I expect to be spending most of my time fishing and snorkeling but would be interested in getting together with someone to pick some...

Jim, A good friend of mine grew up in Elgin. I asked him if he recognized anyone in that picture. He said no, but responded with the information about the Elgin Watch Factory. Seemed interesting...

Great Photo -
In 1939 times were very good in Elgin. The Elgin Watch Factory
<<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_National_Watch_Company>> was in full swing.
It had an even greater effect on...

We were camped in the Pecan Grove when the tornado sirens went off and we scrambled to take down our EZ-Ups & awnings, put instrument in vehicles, and close up camp. It got really dark, the winds...

Incredibly sweet! Congratulations Ben.

Let me first thank you all for your suportive comments.
barrangatan, your comments about post-assembly is consistant with what I experinced as well. Seems I was really worried that I was going to...

I finally finished my Siminoff, H-5 kit.

I did post a few in-progress pictures on another thread but now that I have it finished, I thought I would post some pictures here as well.

….It all...

Thanks hank & Don. I opted for the red spruce top and a one piece curly back. I believe the scale length is something like 15 5/8 inches although I have not measured it.

I bought a Siminoff, H-5 kit and am very pleased I did.

It all started when a friend let me play his AL Smart mandola. I fell in love the way it played and really enjoyed the thick, rich tone...

Thank you all for your input. Some very helpful advise … some very funny stuff too.
I appreciate the information on airbrushes (I do need one) and expect to buy one someday soon… just not now. ...

Working on my 2nd build and am having problems with the coloring process. Have been using alcohol based stains and was trying to get a pumpkin colored top. Problem is I am getting a distinct...

Just a quick question - I’m in the process of shaping the volute on an F style scroll and was wondering what others have found to be the best way to uniformly finish that concave part on the scroll...

Another option: I could use some of the cocobolo scrap I have to make a whole new "solid" extender. Would the cocobolo be a good wood for this application?

Thanks Bill,
I was expecting the two woods might be visible but planning a darker stain in that area anyway. As for using maple…. Actually don’t have any scraps. So, if I have to go out and get...

As I was fitting the fret board extender to the top, I managed to over cut it and have made the extender too thin. Now the maple extender sits just below where the plane of the fret board should...

Derek, I used Deft lacquer that comes in a rattle can for my mandolin and found that it was very easy to apply. When I ran out – I found it at several hardware stores…so it was easy to find. ...

Bill - Is the one you were thinking about w/external tone bars? Doesn't appear that they are carved into the top though. #A very cool looking design. Sorry I don't know anything about the...

Just a thought about what to call a thickness diagram......
From a non- luthier perspective - When I start to think about maping or charting 3-D things in two dimensions, I find Geological terms...

Just in case you are in the Austin area October 20-22, 2006 and want to pick & listen to some good music - I just received the following information about the Austin Sting Band Festival. Didn’t know...

The Ultimate Stand-

How did you get the clutch connector off the tube without destroying it? #

First off, sorry about the humongous picture...

Tim,

Two ideas that were not mentioned above for keeping stringed instruments handy.....

First – I find the best stands for leaving instruments out and “handy” to be the wall hanger type. I...

Andy - I routed the cavities for my inlay with a Dremel tool fitted with a Stu Mac Router Base (all borrowed from a friend). To cut a channel for the 22 gage wire I bought several different Dremel...

I ended up using 22 gage sterling silver (square) wire that I found at the local bead shop - cost me $1.50 per foot. It was the thinnest wire they had that was “flat” although they did have round...

newmando7,

I had the same issue on my first one too. Adrian offered good information - if you would like to read more on the topic you might try searching the Builers forum for title-
"Tone bars...