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While the glue was drying I took the front piece to the thickness sander.


Ran it through until it was about .100 thick. I was thinking about using this for the face, but I did'n't.

Next up was gluing and nailing the snare supports to the box.


Screws attach the snare in the upper left corner.


Another block of plywood to mount the dowel rod and a J-slot. When the dowel is moved to the catch of the slot, it pulls the snare off the skin.


Last for today, glue the face and back on.

Steve, I really want to build a Cajone sometime! You make it look easy, but I doubt it is.

Here is a site with a tutorial for you Beth. http://www.thecajondrumshop.com/index.php?page=How-To-Build-A-Cajon

Thanks Steven!

I forgot the camera today. The drum is now all routed, sanded and the first coat of poly applied.

I finally remembered to charge the camera. Here is the Cajon all finished.



I blocked out the finish on the jazz mando and the bari uke with 800 grit last week. I'll be finishing up wet sanding those tomorrow or Friday and then off to my friend Johns this weekend to use his buffer. The mando bridge was fitted to the top on Monday. I should have the time to have both of these playable by next weekend.

You're kind of an overachiever

Seriously, that Cajon is really cool! Can't wait to see the entire band all together.

This afternoons rain canceled my income producing plans, so I got in some shop time. Nothing exciting, just the wet sanding that I was going to do last week. All blocked out with 1000 grit now, tomorrow is 1200 grit then reschedule that date with John's buffer.

Steve

I'm really looking forward to seeing all of them together and completed. Your prolific production humbles me.

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

If you make a multi-track recording of all of the instruments together, you win my vote.

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Just keeping myself busy. The devil makes work for idle hands, and I'm trying to stay off his payroll.

How about a live jam session?

These tuners were cheap and the white pearloid buttons really accentuate the look. A chunk of ebony that was left over from making fret boards, bridge blanks and head plates is going to help us out here.


Cut some suitably sized pieces on the table saw.


A 3/4" hole saw will work as a plug cutter to net some 5/8" slugs.



I use a piece of drywall to mark the grain direction.

I used my cheap but useful Harbor Freight cross vise to line up the slugs and drill a 1/8" hole for the shaft. The tuner shaft requires a 9/64" hole but this is the closest size brad point that I own. I open up the hole to final size after shaping.


A 2 1/4" #6 wood screw lightly started into the tuner shaft hole makes a good enough handle to hold the button for shaping on the edge sander.




Only lost one to the screw. Perhaps drilling the hole cross grain would have been more prudent.

A soldering gun heats up the shaft to soften the plastic buttons which are pulled off with pliers.



No pics of sanding, enlarging the shaft holes in the buttons or pressing them on to the shafts using the vice. Even more non pics of super gluing a crack in one button, replacing the other more severly cracked button or wiping on a coat of thin CA with a smoking paper towel. We do however have a final picture of the much more attractive re-buttoned tuners fit for a Jazz Mandolin.

The ebony tuner buttons are a huge improvement

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Loved the detail on the tuner buttons! If they're just pressed on, what keeps them from slipping when bringing strings up to pitch?

Thanks Beth

The buttons are secured to the shafts with a prodigious amount of medium CA.

Thanks Steve, I was quite happy they were such a simple shape, easier to duplicate than most.

Great job on the buttons. I'm glad I saw this, it contributed to one of those "well " moments. For a long time I have been wanting to set up to be able to make tuner buttons that matched my fretboards. I have not gotten around to it, mostly because I have not figured out how to shape the buttons. Just last night I was noticing how crappy the plastic buttons on my economy mandolin tuners looked. It never occurred to me that mando buttons can be little circles. I have scraps of my fretboard wood and an extra month to work with, I may have to try this.

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Shiney time.

This is why I go to John's shop to buff. A nice Stew Mac buffer set up with plenty of natural light for checking your progress.


Pull 1 buff off each side to get into those tight cutaways and waists.


A picture of John's back yard.


This is his fire extinguisher.


I really like the trans red on the previously crappy looking hemlock.

Mmmmm...shiny.


Posted using two tin cans and some string.

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

A bit of assembly this afternoon.

Okay Steve, I want to buy that black beauty!!!! LOVE IT