I know! When I returned home with the hardware, I realised I hadn't looked for wingnuts.
Maybe I'll swap them at some point.
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SBO22 - Mandola
- Thread starter Flamingo21
- Start date
Maybe I'll swap them at some point.
Do these go around the sides of the instrument to clamp the front and back while gluing?
Here's a shop-made quick adjust nut that's way easier and quicker than wing nuts. If you check out a store that carries Rockler products you'll find this type of slide-on knob and nut available commercially.
As I understand things, that's their basic idea. It's why I'm building them.
New obligatory text pic, because I bought some new wood. The white colour is especially hideous, but who cares, it will be hidden.
Cut diagonally. (At first I used the 27.5° slit, and wondered why things didn't fit.)
Glued to the back...
... and clamped.
Cut diagonally. (At first I used the 27.5° slit, and wondered why things didn't fit.)
Glued to the back...
... and clamped.
The first of eight sides glued on.
Cardboard boxes are an absolutely indispensable part of instrument building.
Cardboard boxes are an absolutely indispensable part of instrument building.
Yep, Cardboard boxes are right up there with clamps and rasps and duct tape. I’m not sure it would have been possible for life to evolve without those.
Now that I can feel in my hands how strong this construction is, I'm growing more confident that I can try steel strings. Earlier, I had doubts whether the construction could withstand the higher pull.
I found a way to file at a precise angle, using the angle saw guide. As long as I keep the file exactly parallel to the edge of the saw guide, which is easily checked from where I'm standing, I can file at the correct angle.
(I'm a lefty so the file is in my left hand. If I were a righty I'd rig things up the same way and stand at the opposite side of the table.)
(I'm a lefty so the file is in my left hand. If I were a righty I'd rig things up the same way and stand at the opposite side of the table.)
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Good use of your spool clamps.
Most of us use wooden clothes pins with rubber bands added to give them extra clamping power to glue on the linings, but whatever gets the job done is good.
As an afterthought, extending the neck through the body is also a way to both attach the neck and provide adjustability of your neck angle.
Most of us use wooden clothes pins with rubber bands added to give them extra clamping power to glue on the linings, but whatever gets the job done is good.
As an afterthought, extending the neck through the body is also a way to both attach the neck and provide adjustability of your neck angle.
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Bet you're glad you made them square instead of round now. that seems much more versatile.
So far, I made an equal number of round and square ones. (There are a few round ones unused out of frame.) Both kinds work well in this case.
For the round batch I used a piece of wood that was already cylindrical. If there's a third batch... I don't know what they'll look like. Depends on what happens to be available.
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Seeing your square spool clamps now has me wondering why they are traditionally round.
My best guess is that on very tight inside curves like you might find on a violin, you might run into trouble fitting square clamps edge-to-edge to ensure complete clamping, but you can always pack circles tightly. And if you were clamping a highly arched top or back, the corner might dig in if it were oriented wrong. But it seems like squares should work the other 99% of the time...
My best guess is that on very tight inside curves like you might find on a violin, you might run into trouble fitting square clamps edge-to-edge to ensure complete clamping, but you can always pack circles tightly. And if you were clamping a highly arched top or back, the corner might dig in if it were oriented wrong. But it seems like squares should work the other 99% of the time...
Maybe because they are easy to make with a hole saw.
OMG, I invented something! The square spool clamp! (Dice Clamp?) I have permanently put my stamp on luthiery! I'll be famous!
Let's just call them Flamingo Clamps, okay?
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On the other hand, the square ones are easy to make with a hand saw. Just start with a length of 3/4" x 3/4", or 20mm x 20mm, or whatever.
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