There's another storm brewing!

Rasp: yes, I think yours was one of the several recommendations.


Bench: Thanks for the info, Beej.

Has anyone else got workbench info, tips, or suggestions?

 

Nice benches, thanks. That one with the built in pipe clamps looks cool, though I'm not sure whether it applies to guitar making as much.

 

When I saw the bench, I pretty much dismissed it because it was so nice - and complex - that I knew I that I couldn't devote the hours to building one, nice as it is. But I'll take another look to see what bits and ideas from it I can use.

 

I've got some questions about the Shinto rasp. Starting a new thread on it.

[ edit ] Here it is. Any help is appreciated.

 

lbridenstine very awesomely came through with a translation. Here it is.

 

It's been suggested that since this neck (and the bass in general) will have several layers, it would be a good idea to use epoxy for the glue-up, to avoid introducing a lot of moisture into the wood. So, I've got a few questions.

1. Who has used epoxy for their laminations? What results have you gotten, and what tips can you offer?

2. West Systems? System Three? Z-Poxy? And which version (which resin, hardener)?

3. Surface prep - De-oiling? Scratching for added tooth? None?

4. Reasons to use epoxy, or not to?

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the info, HH.

Can anyone else lend some epoxy laminating expertise?

 

Thanks.

 

Wood is in. It's great (as expected from Larry). One piece was damaged in transit, so that will require a solution.

Types are rock maple with some flame, quilted bigleaf maple, calico padauk, peruvian walnut, gonçalo alves, and beeswing makore.

No pics tonight, gig. Probably tomorrow.

 

Today I got in from work early enough to take the wood outside in the quickly dying light, splash some alcohol on them, and take a few pics before the bitter cold froze my hands. (I'm not used to 12 F / -11 C in NYC!).

(Some of these have a touch of color correction to try to counter the setting sunlight.)

Some thin rock maple, to be used for accent in neck and body. These are the ends of two long boards.

The narrower piece is significantly darker than the rest of the maple accent wood. But the figure popped so much when wet, I'll have to figure the best way to work it into the build cohesively!

Two thin panels of bigleaf maple, also for accents.


Two more. These are actually a beautifull bookmatch, so it will be a shame to bury them between other layers. But I will position them to best put the quilting where it will be revealed in roundovers or sculpting.


Peruvian walnut for the body core.

This is nice and light. Lighter than Juglans walnut proper, and a little more porous.

The makore for the back.

This is the problem panel. It was a one-piece to span the back, with just one check to be sorted out. In shipping, the check grew, plus it cracked apart in a different place, and the panel picked up some cup. So there's a bit of work to be done to salvage it. If it hadn't also cupped, I would just rip both sides of the split and glue, and the figure would hide the seam, per Larry's advice. But I think I'm going to have to un-bend it first, before doing any cutting. All advice is welcome!

And finally the two that surprised me the most when wetted: the calico padauk (bottom) and the gonçalo alves (top). (Again, these are one end of some long boards.)

The thing is, dry, the padauk has very light white/cream stripes that darken up wet; and the gonçalo dry is completely various shades of warm-to-cool chocolate. Once wetted it actually lightened up, which I've never seen wood do before, so the two of them approach each other. Also, I'm pretty sure the gonçalo the has some flame, of which I had no idea until I got the pics out of the camera.

The GA is one of the densest woods I've ever hefted. I think the grain/porosity is fine enough that I can polish it up and leave the fingerboard unfinished. Does anyone have experience with using gonçalo alves that way? So these two will probably be as: GA for fretboard and back of neck, and padauk for neck core as well as front face of body wings. They are both very nicely quarter sawn (or, technically, radial cuts).



I'm a pretty happy camper!