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Peter F's challenge build is DONE! NEW VIDEO ADDED
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Author:  PeterF [ Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:03 am ]
Post subject:  Peter F's challenge build is DONE! NEW VIDEO ADDED
I'm quite new here, so I'll just introduce myself properly first. I'm a boatbuilding student in Pembrokeshire, Wales. I'm 20 years old and I've just got the guitar building bug, so this will hopefully be the first of many. :P

Here's a rough idea of my design - it will probably change completely as I build it!
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Sitka spruce top, mahogany back, sides and neck.
Author:  PeterF [ Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Like I said before, I had glued up the top and back a few weeks ago - hope that's all right.
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While waiting to start properly, I've been making some tools.
This is my rather disastrous attempt at routing a radius dish:
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The router decided to change it's depth occasionally, so it's rather lumpy. gaah I've put filler on it and try to sand it smooth.

I've started on the rosette too.
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Author:  PeterF [ Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Here's my pricing list:

Back, sides, neck - $0 - from an old piece of furniture
Bracing, lining and inlay wood - $0 - offcuts from college
Top - $26 - Touchstone tonewood
Binding - $15 - ''
Purfling, truss rod, bridge blank, fingerboard, nut and frets from Madinter for $93
Saddle - $4 - ebay
Bridge pins -$3 - ebay
Tuners - $6 - really cheap chinese things from ebay. They don't look too bad... laughing6-hehe

Total $147 plus finish which will be wiped varnish. Maybe another $10.
Author:  PeterF [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
The rosette's finished, I've got the neck ready for gluing up and the radius dish didn't turn out too bad. :)

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I can't believe how fast some of you guys work :shock:
Author:  WudWerkr [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 7:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Like the rosette [:Y:] Great work
Author:  Rodger Knox [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
+1 on the rosette! [:Y:]
Author:  PeterF [ Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Getting on slowly - I'll be back in the workshop next week, so I'll be able to move on a bit quicker hopefully.
I've glued up the neck and started carving out the heel shape.
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Yes, that is my kitchen! laughing6-hehe

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I hope I haven't gone too low on the heel. That line down the side is the cut off point. Does a thin heel weaken the neck at all?
Author:  jfmckenna [ Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Nothing like a kitchen workshop, the beer is real close ;)

Nice rosette design and execution.
Author:  PeterF [ Wed Sep 26, 2012 2:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Thanks for the compliments everyone! I got the rosette idea from looking at Somogyi's guitars.
Sorry for the slow progress - I'm sure I won't be able to finish in time idunno . Anyway, I finally got the sides planed to thickness and bent. I was putting it off for as long as possible, but it went surprisingly easy seeing as it was my first time. I had read conflicting advice about bending mahogany. Some people said bend it almost dry and others said you should soak it for 10 mins beforehand. I tried it dry first and nothing happened, so I stuck it in the shower for a while and it bent like butter :D .

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Next I need to machine up the neck block for the bolt-on M+T neck and get the lining kerfed - time to call Tony...!!
Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
You're actually ahead of me and I'll be out of the shop for a few weeks in Oct annnnnnnnnd I still plan on finishing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Author:  PeterF [ Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
I've got a few more bits and pieces done. I planed some meranti offcuts from a display cabinet down to 5x15mm for the linings:
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(I love pictures of wood shavings :P )

Then, as I don't have easy access to a bandsaw or tablesaw with the right thickness blade, I made up this simple hand kerfing jig out of a fake japanese saw blade, 2 blocks of wood and a craft knife blade:
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The knife blade is superglued 5mm away from the saw blade which registers in the kerf you've just cut. The wood blocks are the depth stop. It's still extremely tedious and took about 2 hours, but I'm sure it's better than cutting with a hand saw.
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After kerfing, I found the meranti cracked easily, so I soaked them and bent them round the hot pipe. Now I just need to glue them in.
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I've also been having some ideas for the headplate.
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That's all for now.
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Nicely done, Peter!
Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Oct 02, 2012 8:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Looking good - I like the headstock. I think most of us share that love of a good pile of woodshavings - I was picking some up last night and checking that I could read something through them just because idunno
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Agreed, that headstock is eye-catching.......(literally)! Love it! Be careful of that sharp top bit!

Dave F.
Author:  PeterF [ Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Dave Fifield wrote:
Agreed, that headstock is eye-catching.......(literally)! Love it! Be careful of that sharp top bit!

Dave F.


Ha. Didn't think of that! wow7-eyes Maybe I'd better round it over a bit.
Author:  PeterF [ Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Free time in the workshop has been frustratingly rare this term, so I hadn't been able to route the mortice in the head block. Anyway, I got it done at last, so I glued it in along with the tail block. Half the lining is on too. Now I'm just waiting for the glue to dry before profiling the sides and sticking on the other half. With any luck, I might be able to get the box closed next weekend.

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Tail block

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Head block

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I also made up a little jig to glue the headplate together. It is made of three pieces (wenge, mahogany and olive) with purfling in between, so I had to use wedges to get it all tight. It should look nice once it's all cleaned up.

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Gluing jig

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The finished headplate
Author:  WudWerkr [ Sun Oct 14, 2012 9:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
I relly like the headplate concept !! excellent idea ! [:Y:]
Author:  PeterF [ Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
More progress today. I had done a model of the guitar in CAD (google sketchup!) and used that to get a profile for the sides. I printed it full size and traced around it.
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Side profiling in progress - planed to the line then finished in the radius dish.
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I could then bend the other set of linings to the new profile
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While they were drying, I finished planing the top and back to the right thickness and cut out the soundhole. I was dreading planing the back because it seems to have a lot of runout and tears really all the time. It was done eventually though!
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Starting to look like a guitar!
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I then cut out and glued on some side braces.
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And finally laid out the bracing design for the top and back.
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Just a random image of my current guitar next to the new one. idunno
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Author:  Beth Mayer [ Mon Oct 15, 2012 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Peter, it is looking GREAT! You obviously have a gift for this....can't believe it's your first (even if you are studying boat building). Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Author:  PeterF [ Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Thanks Beth - I hope it gets finished in time! :?
Author:  PeterF [ Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Just a small update. The linings and side braces are complete and I'm getting the braces ready for gluing.

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I'va also made up a bunch of spool clamps for gluing the top on. (Sorry about the poor picture quality - my camera's slowly dying!)
Author:  PeterF [ Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
Hooray - the top is braced!! bliss
I've used a bracing pattern I copied from a photo of one of Somogyi's guitars. I know it doesn't mean it will sound like one, but it doesn't hurt to try! Anyway, to me, the lower lattice bracing makes much more sense than the two asymmetric tone bars on standard x bracing, as it spreads out the stiffness more evenly. It does take a lot longer to put together though - especially when you don't have a go bar deck :roll: . I took me two days to get them all glued on, because I only have about ten clamps in total and most of them are tiny.

Gluing the x brace
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Upper transverse brace
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Bridge plate (Probably not the best way of doing it!)
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Lower lattice bracing
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Oversize braces after gluing
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Checking the fit of the sides
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Author:  PeterF [ Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
The finished carved and capped braces:
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Please tell me what you think. Does it look too heavy still?

I've also been working on a label for the soundhole:
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Author:  Beth Mayer [ Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
I don't know anything about using lattice bracing. Are you letting all of those brace ends into the linings? That would be a lot of work!

Love the label.
Author:  PeterF [ Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Peter F's challenge build
No, all the braces are stopped at the lining apart from the UTB. I've been going on this http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?t=110&start=25
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