Monday Bending sides!
We bent our sides, binding, and kerfing strips today and joined them together.
This is the side bending fixture. It has three 200 watt light bulbs inside and is what we used to form our binding strips, kerfing, and sides.
We then attached the kerfing strips to the sides. Notice the saw cuts in the strips that are attached to the sides. These are called kerfs. They allow the thick strips to bend rather easily, yet when bent provide a great deal of support for the sides, top, and back. Great engineering - thought of many years ago!
Tuesday - Hand tools and craft.
Watching a craftsperson at work is truly an amazing thing. Today George showed us how to take our bracing which was glued to the top last week and produce and instrument with tone. We used hand tools - chisels and little tiny hand planes about 1 inch long then cut down the bracing on the top. It took a piece of wood that sounded like a brick, and produced an instrument.
The beginning of day!
Finished!
George demonstrating how to check for tone on a soundboard.
Wednesday - Let's make something that looks like a guitar!
Today we worked on preparing the soundboard and neck to meet
We fit the neck and top together and checked alignment.
We then glued the neck block to the top.
We prepared the sides by hand planing and then running them through the jointer. Nothing like taking paper thin wood and running it through a machine that can rip your arm off!
Then we worked on cutting the sides and kerfing, adjusting the bracing, and attaching them to the top. Tomorrow we glue!
4 comments:
WOW! I can't stop reading and admiring the photos! I feel like I'm in the middle of an epic poem. Wishing you more fun, more learning, and lots of success. (ALSO loved your lefty stories!) Cliff
Ken, it sounds like you're having a wonderful adventure!
You missed an epic 5 game match against Penn State last Sunday. We lost 15-13 in the fifth game on a missed touch call after Dolgner and Reinke blocked a Penn St. hit.
I look forward to seeing you when you're back.
This is great. I am so happy that you are able to pursue your dream. I love the pictures of Vermont. Reminds me of the good old days in Michigan where the biggest billboard was a Burma Shave sign along the road. You are going to build great guitars, and you will inspire other lefties along the way.
Ken, It looks as if you're really enjoying retirement. We're glad that you have the chance to do something that's completely different from teaching at East High. Thanks for sending the excellent pictures.
Gail and Don
Post a Comment