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Thread: No Power Tool Mandolin

  1. #301

    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Matt Harris View Post
    Using chisels and a hammer to thickness wood is an enormous waste of time. Five bucks worth of tools at harbor freight would save you hours of time and loads of frustration. Honestly, you should know that at this point.
    Using a plane, or what? I feel like a plane would still take a long time.

  2. #302
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Look, it’s 300 posts in and you’ve shared no progress just spilled blood and chat. Nothing wrong with that but, have you actually done anything other than beating on a piece of poplar with caveman tools after well meaning folks have offered insight as to taking steps to learn the woodworking skills which need to be developed?
    Taking a hammer and chisel to a piece of wood is all well and good but, have you learned to make anything? If you are trying to level and smooth a piece of poplar needs a plane not a chisel, the right tool for the job will help with blood loss and quality workmanship.
    How much more encouragement do you need to start showing your progress? Have you made a box? Have you practiced any forms of joinery? Even sanding something level is a start.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

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  4. #303
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Pranav Ajay Warrier View Post
    I'll try to post a picture if I remember to, but heads up, it looks absolutely atrocious at this point. It is hard to flatten wood from 1.75 inches to .15" with a hammer and some chisels. But I am definitely enjoying the ride.
    Perhaps the best course of action, Pranav, is to work on whatever you are doing and come back here with questions that show that you are following some sensible path. As you may have noticed, many of the knowledgeable people here are not posting any more and you may lose the other ones who are still here.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pranav Ajay Warrier View Post
    Hey everybody, I am a little curious about what would happen if I made a small body mandolin (kinda like a piccolo mandolin), but wound mandocello strings on it. Would it sound good? Is it even reasonable?
    Quote Originally Posted by Pranav Ajay Warrier View Post
    I am in Physics 101 right now and we're learning about the physics of waves, and part of the unit is sound waves, and I think I can gauge the velocity and frequencies of waves well, so that might come in handy as well.
    Why would you put mandocello strings on a piccolo body? Ask your Physics teacher what he or she thinks. Have yiu ever looked at mandocello strings? The lowest ones are considerably thicker than guitar strings.

    So far every time we tell you to stick to the mainstream methods and standards you want to veer off into outer limits. Very strange. Build a mandolin of mandolin size and put mandolin strings on it.
    Jim

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  6. #304
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    PVW----perhaps accessing Youtube and typing in "How to build a mandolin" would give you a huge assortment of videos that would point you in the right direction and would motivate you to take action and enable you to quit dithering. I am starting to think that the time you have spent posting nonsense in previous posts is nothing more than "cat fishing".....you seem to be garnering a lot of attention but have little to show as far as producing a mandolin. It reminds me of a girl I knew in high school who wanted to be asked to be in the play so she could say "no." I am 100% supportive of you if you actually get on the stick and start building. If it was easy---everyone could do it.

  7. #305
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Why don’t you share your plan? I would think you would have a list of the tasks and have the steps arranged in order before you started beating on some wood. Did you make a full sized layout so you could make the parts to match? If you don’t have a plan you’re just wasting everyone’s time

    Hopefully you won’t get hurt, again.
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  8. #306
    Chu Dat Frawg Eric C.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    I was thinking this was a really long set up for April Fool's Day, but here it is the 3rd...

  9. #307
    Registered User Steve Sorensen's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Here's how you do it --



    Steve
    Steve Sorensen
    Sorensen Mandolin & Guitar Co.
    www.sorensenstrings.com

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  11. #308

    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Wow! Amazing video, Steve, thanks for posting! Who says you need a fancy vise or clamps? This guy never heard of StewMac! Reminds me of the old expression, "making a way out of no way!"

  12. #309
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    That guy has had a lot of practice to do what he does with what he has. Simply amazing.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  13. #310
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    That guy has had a lot of practice to do what he does with what he has. Simply amazing.
    Yes, as evidenced by many subtle things, including that he has all his fingers.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

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  15. #311
    Registered User Tom Haywood's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Great video! Just about convinced me to quit machine sanding the top and back overhang and start using a machete.
    Tom

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  16. #312
    Adrian Minarovic
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Haywood View Post
    Great video! Just about convinced me to quit machine sanding the top and back overhang and start using a machete.
    I've used my trusty medium sized bowie knife quite often for initial neck shaping and even trimming back overhang when the maple was not too cooperative... Works pretty well but can do quite a damage if you miss the target. These days I try to cut with saw as close as possible to the "line" so no tools of mass destruction are needed.
    Adrian

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  18. #313

    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by StevenS View Post
    Here's how you do it --



    Steve
    Just rewatched that, and I think my computer skipped part of the video, because that was just amazing. I can't believe he shapes it like clay!

  19. #314
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Ten days and not a peep!? Have we all been taken in by Pranav?
    Or has this thread been a figment of our collective imagination?
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

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  21. #315
    Registered User John Kelly's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Timothy, I fear you may be reopening Pandora's box. I only hope there have been no more trips to the casualty department (or ER, as you folks across the Atlantic call it, I believe.
    I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order. - Eric Morecambe

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  22. #316
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    You know John, I thought that as soon as I posted the note!
    I’d prefer to think the guy is trying to make a box or glue two pieces of something together!
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  23. #317
    Registered User Nick Gellie's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Marty Jacobson View Post
    +1 for Narex chisels. They are excellent, pro-quality tools which will last a lifetime. And they cost under $10 apiece. Not bad for something you could hand down to your grandkids in perfect working order.
    https://www.amazon.com/Narex-Republi.../dp/B00GPC74ZQ

    Also check this out: http://www.dunwellguitar.com/FingerPlanes/MyDesign.htm
    You can make blades out of an old file in a pinch.
    ++1 for Narex chisels. I have a set of six Narex chisels. They work really well.
    Nic Gellie

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  25. #318

    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    OK, I am new here and don't want to annoy people right out of the gate, just looking through the Build and Repair section for build threads. I thought I would read this one as I did something similar but on the guitar side of life. I did read the first ten pages but then decided to see where things are currently and decided to skip some of the middle. No offense to any that stuck it out (and I commend you) but I don't have the patience.

    That all said and done I do have some woodworking experience and did a hack build with hand tools and questionable materials. While a short scale nylon guitar does not have the stress of a mandolin I managed to make a playable instrument out of a 2"x4", a fence board and a bit of maple for the fretboard and the bridge. While I would not really recommend anyone using the same wood (although the 2x4 was a good piece of wood) there may be a few ideas that Pranav might be able to use.

    https://forum.canadianwoodworking.co...yone-can-build

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  27. #319
    Registered User Inklings's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Printer2, That's a pretty neat job you did there - and really helpful.

    Although I really wish you guys would stop removing all my good excuses for not building...
    Kirby Francis

    Francis Guitar Repair

  28. #320
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by printer2 View Post
    While I would not really recommend anyone using the same wood (although the 2x4 was a good piece of wood) there may be a few ideas that Pranav might be able to use.
    I don't know if Pranav is still reading this thread, but there are two things not visible in your thread on the shoestring guitar and thatm of course, is your patience and woodworking experience. A rank amateur needs to gain those attributes to do what you did, whether it was with low cost wood or AAAA quality.
    Jim

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  29. #321
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Very ingenious ways to build, you also have something Pranav doesn't have, tools. I especially liked the way you cut the sound hole and flattened the saddle slot. Being able to improvise tools to do what you need is a valuable gift to have.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  30. #322
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    The bigger point here is that someone is actually building. It's easy to talk about it, harder to execute the build. Nice work printer2.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  32. #323

    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    I don't know if Pranav is still reading this thread, but there are two things not visible in your thread on the shoestring guitar and thatm of course, is your patience and woodworking experience. A rank amateur needs to gain those attributes to do what you did, whether it was with low cost wood or AAAA quality.
    And that is the nice thing of forums like this one, a wealth of experience available. Yes there is knowing how much to give and take with the tools and wood, you are only going to get that by working with your hands. But throughout the thread I read a lot of good suggestions that might have seen the OP a ways farther along.

    It is one thing to know you built something with your bare hands but your first time out you probably will not get a visually great instrument or quite the sound you want. But then again I have seen people's instruments that look fantastic first time out. I am handy and my first guitar was pretty good but had its flaws, darn you wood bindings.

    Now if I were to go the limited tool route in building a mandolin I would spring for a hand drill at least. Using a bit and a depth stop should make carving out the top and back much easier than hammering away at a piece of wood. Going to have to drill holes for the tuners anyway. Otherwise I think I could build a mandolin with no more than I used in my budget guitar build. One thing I do like to tell people wanting to build a guitar is to build a ukulele first. Not as big a project and if it has a few things that could be done better your next build will probably see those corrected. A mandolin seems like it might have a little less latitude for error if you want a reasonable instrument.

    I do want to build one myself but the reason I am here is I saw a Rogue for sale yesterday and picked it up. I have too many guitars I need to finish than to start a new project, the few bucks I paid for the Rogue was worth it even though I can tell it is not as rich a sounding instrument as can be. My first dip in the mandolin pond, I'll build one at some point in time.

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  34. #324

    Default Re: No Power Tool Mandolin

    Hey everybody, it's been a while. I kind of put a hold on this project and I don't plan to get back to it until I have the stuff I need to do a good job. In the meantime, I will continue watching videos, reading, and looking at the forums. Thanks for the help though. I can't wait to get back on this project.

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