Walnut Hollowbody Build

[Elias Graves]

Doing detail work tonight. Making the tip perfectly round is tricky.

And making the edge square. Not quite yet...

 

[Elias Graves]

Just the other day I was wishing I had an 18" straight edge. Then I found one. What luck!
Tonight I used it looking at the fretboard and nearly had a coronary.

I'm freaking out wondering WTF happened.
Then I realized I better check again. I used my good 12" square.

Damn. Crisis averted. I was all having "time for the fireplace" thoughts.
Inferior Chinese made products! Even a straight edge isn't straight!

 

[Phil513]

Whew!

Did you put the straightedge against the T square? Is it really that much off?

 

[Elias Graves]

Lookin at it closely, it's been bent. I just found it in a box here in the garage.


One thing I like about putting the ebonizing juice on as I go is that it makes a great visual gauge when you're sanding. In addition to letting you know if you missed spots, it reveals low spots that need to be worked out. These spots represent dents maybe a thousandth or two deep.

 

[Phil513]

I used to do that with painting cars. I'd spray it with gray primer, then dust it with black primer then sand. The black would show the low spots.

Probably not really relevant, but i'm still awake.

 

[Elias Graves]

Yeah same idea. Works great for getting that last bit of uneven out.

I guess my next job is to drill tuner holes. I should probably build a fixture for doing that.

 

[Elias Graves]

I'm done with the shaping and done up to 60 grit on the paper. I think I'll quit there for now.

 

[Elias Graves]

Ill trim a little more with paper, but I like this.

 

[Elias Graves]

 

[Elias Graves]

Anybody have an opinion on this shape?


http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luthiers-corner/228832-peters-bilt-venetian-style-carved-top.html

 

[Elias Graves]

 

[Elias Graves]

 

[Elias Graves]

I think the light fretboard looks good with the black.

 

[CBHScott]

Sweet!

 

[irishstu]

Very pro.

 

[Chad]

I think the light fretboard looks good with the black.

it does. Nice job.

 

[Flatspotter]

Love it!

 

[Elias Graves]

Thanks guys.
Tonight, I massaged the neck/headstock transition some more but nothing big to report.
I did go to Home Depot, however. Made a run for shop supplies with a birthday gift card.

Three new bar clamps; a pair of 12" and a single 24". Also a 3" c clamp. One can never have too many clamps.
Drill bit for my side markers
Sandpaper
Mineral spirits and denatured alcohol. I've been buying the odorless mineral spirits lately. It works as well, doesn't stink very bad and doesn't rip your skin off. It also washes off easily with soap and water.
The denatured alcohol is to mix up some fresh shellac. I'm gonna put a few coats of garnet over the danish oil. That stuff makes the wood look great but doesn't have any film at all on the surface. Walnut is hard already and doesn't need a ton of protection, but...
The danish oil does have some type of spar varnish in it but it all gets carried down in or wiped off. Doesn't leave much to protect against impact. The spar varnish IN the wood does have some effect hardening it but a thicker skull doesn't keep you from getting a cut on your forehead. The shellac will be a little helmet for it.

Had a talk with Mrs G's dad about that jointer I picked up; remember the one with the cloth insulated wire? That one.
Mrs G wasn't keen on me firing it up but her dad assured her that it works fine so I'm gonna set it up here soon and get my body jointed up.

 

[Elias Graves]

Here we go. Now I think I have this where I want it. I also lightened the shade of the stain just a bit.

 

[Phil513]

Really looking great dude.