Re: No Power Tool Mandolin
Back when I was young and full of juice, two very good builders advised my to first learn to sharpen a tool. At first it was nothing more than X-acto blades but, the lesson was critical! There was a time I thought I might have attempted to build a mandolin and I still toy with the idea. I’d start with something a little less complicated to get a feel for the tools than an F-5 though and I’ve got access to some really talented help! Maybe a few dozen boxes and then a pancake, every step on the trip is a point to learn. Look at as many instruments as you can get close to, measure (with permission) them, keep a notebook, listen, talk with builders when you can.
One of the first guys told me “Draw your plan, it does a couple of things, givens you a feel for the form and it makes it YOURS.” It took me years to understand the value of that statement. Draw sketches at least, make your head understand the shape then, teach your hands how to make it. Like learning a tune, get it in your head and then tell the fingers where to go.
Jeff is right, there’s artistry in the F-5, especially the fine ones!
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
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