My first octave mandolin build complete minus finish

[jlavkuli]

We added the hardware and strings for a test run. It went well. Had to make a few adjustments but sound and intonation are excellent. I never played a mando before but I learned a few chords and was able to jam with my wife on the fiddle. I already removed the hardware and my wife has started the finish. Now I have to learn how to play it properly.

Many thanks Don.

[Audio Artillery]

Awesome. It will look great finished too.

[Luthier]

Very Nice, John. You guys did great!!!
Don

[billhay4]

So you're halfway there. :-)
Bill

[jlavkuli]

So you're halfway there. :-)
Bill

That's funny. And true. It's kind of disturbing that you could ruin so much work with a little finsh.

[crazymandolinist]

Great job. Looks really nice

[Bill Snyder]

So you're halfway there. :-)
Bill

I think on the first mandolin I built (a flat top of my own design) I really did have more time in the finish than the build.

[Rosemary Philips]

That looks so great!

[Rosemary Philips]

What's the inlay on the headstock and how did you do it?

[jlavkuli]

It is mother of pearl. My wife did all of that work. She drew the design on a square piece of m-o-p we got from Stew-Mac, rough cut it with a scroll saw and shaped it with files. That stuff is very brittle. Then she traced the design on to the headstock and cut it out with a carving knife. Takes a lot of time, patience and a steady hand.

[Rosemary Philips]

Really looks great!

[Luthier]

You need to get a dremel, John. Way to much carving it as you mentioned. It looks good but that is a lot of work.
Don

[Dobe]

It is mother of pearl. ...rough cut it with a scroll saw and shaped it with files. That stuff is very brittle. Then she traced the design on to the headstock and cut it out with a carving knife. Takes a lot of time, patience and a steady hand.

Yikes ! That is patience. I suspect most folks use the little jewlers saw, then files; definately a Dremel w/downward cutting bits to inlay. Still takes a bit of time & patience; it's become one of my favorite aspects of building !

Nice work to you both, BTW !

[jlavkuli]

Yikes ! That is patience. I suspect most folks use the little jewlers saw, then files; definately a Dremel w/downward cutting bits to inlay. Still takes a bit of time & patience; it's become one of my favorite aspects of building !

Nice work to you both, BTW !

Thanks folks.

I have the power tools and bits but Karen (my wife) says she prefers to work with hand tools. I think it since it takes longer, she has more time away from me.