So... you know I have to recreate this now, right?
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Winter Build Off 2020 - Leftovers and Locust
- Thread starter rojo412
- Start date
Just tested a piece of scrap. This pic makes it look fairly impressive!
... it wasn't. The lighter fluid burned off really fast and barely singed the surface.
So I put some wood shavings down and used this as the main "log".
I'll have more results when it stops smoldering.
But I will say, you can just straight up blow-torch the grain on the wood and it darkens fast.
(BTW, I don't have a fro or a headband, nor any frilly clothes. The shower cap was about as close as I could get to any of that. ENJOY!)
I don't know if I'm quite sold on the full-on burn for this project.
When I had the piece actually catch fire enough to char, it removed a fair amount of material. Once that was brushed off and oiled, this was the result:
It's got a character, sure. But I'd worry that it would take out enough wood in the thinner carved areas to cause problems.
This was the result of basically just hitting the grain with a small torch though (and amber shellac to see what happened with that):
I'd likely be more into this method. Perhaps a more uniform scorching would be in order, as well as more of a sanding on the higher spots. But you can also get this effect from just accenting the grain with black wood filler. The finish would be smoother, too. This would be really fast though. And it requires FIRE!
Not quite sure where to be on this one just yet. I'm gonna keep carving away at the body, then neck, then see where I end up.
BY THE WAY... I've really enjoyed using files and rasps for shaping. I honestly never used them for any actual shaping duties like this, but holy crap, you can really do good work with not much effort. And it's kinda therapeutic.
Saying this, I feel like that guy who's way late to the party on something widely known ("You guys ever hear Geddy Lee play? That guy wails!"). But seriously, I bought an $11 file set at Harbor Freight and have been LOVING it all day today. Pretty sure I'll be using it for shaping the neck.
When I had the piece actually catch fire enough to char, it removed a fair amount of material. Once that was brushed off and oiled, this was the result:
It's got a character, sure. But I'd worry that it would take out enough wood in the thinner carved areas to cause problems.
This was the result of basically just hitting the grain with a small torch though (and amber shellac to see what happened with that):
I'd likely be more into this method. Perhaps a more uniform scorching would be in order, as well as more of a sanding on the higher spots. But you can also get this effect from just accenting the grain with black wood filler. The finish would be smoother, too. This would be really fast though. And it requires FIRE!
Not quite sure where to be on this one just yet. I'm gonna keep carving away at the body, then neck, then see where I end up.
BY THE WAY... I've really enjoyed using files and rasps for shaping. I honestly never used them for any actual shaping duties like this, but holy crap, you can really do good work with not much effort. And it's kinda therapeutic.
Saying this, I feel like that guy who's way late to the party on something widely known ("You guys ever hear Geddy Lee play? That guy wails!"). But seriously, I bought an $11 file set at Harbor Freight and have been LOVING it all day today. Pretty sure I'll be using it for shaping the neck.
Davie's videos are a big part of what motivated my son to start playing bass this past summer, so he gets two thumbs up from me!
I've been using cheap files on wood for a long time, but just recently got a few "nice" Iwasaki rasps too. If you like using the cheap stuff that much, the nice stuff will blow your mind. It's hard (for me at least) to plunk down $40 on a single rasp but man is it worth it... The result is a nicer surface that doesn't take as much cleanup with sandpaper, but the biggest advantage is that they are so sharp, you barely need any pressure at all. It really adds to the enjoyment when it takes less effort and your hands don't cramp up.
It's funny, I was actually at one of my favorite tool places, looking for a Shinto rasp. Turns out, they are much better for power tools and accessories than hand tools and didn't have one (nor know what it was when I asked). OH WELL! That's basically what prompted me to stop at HF, I just needed a bigger round file.
Sounds like what I really need to do is eventually get some better stuff like that for some of this fine work and stop relying so much on the power tools. Especially for details which can't be reached with anything besides my fingers because the less I have to sand inside of cavities and coves, the better.
That, and learn to sharpen tools better.
Sounds like what I really need to do is eventually get some better stuff like that for some of this fine work and stop relying so much on the power tools. Especially for details which can't be reached with anything besides my fingers because the less I have to sand inside of cavities and coves, the better.
That, and learn to sharpen tools better.
This post wins talkbass for 2020 and it’s only January 8.
I just got an Iwasaki rasp and am using it for the first time. It works so well, when I was reading reviews trying to decide which one to buy I saw a review that said "I have a "I'd leave my wife" kind of relationship with the Iwasaki file". I'm not quite there, but it is really nice.
I also got a file at a tag sale this summer, apparently all my old files are dull, this one is not aggressive at all (not like the Iwasaki), but it leaves such a nice finish, I use it a lot after I get the rough shaping done with the Iwasaki.
I barely used my shinto on this build, which is weird, because that was what I used almost exclusively on previous builds. BTW for doing neck facet filing, try using a farrier's rasp, wow that thing cuts wood off like a knife through warm butter. It has a rough and fine side and I can get to a nice finish with those.
I also got a file at a tag sale this summer, apparently all my old files are dull, this one is not aggressive at all (not like the Iwasaki), but it leaves such a nice finish, I use it a lot after I get the rough shaping done with the Iwasaki.
I barely used my shinto on this build, which is weird, because that was what I used almost exclusively on previous builds. BTW for doing neck facet filing, try using a farrier's rasp, wow that thing cuts wood off like a knife through warm butter. It has a rough and fine side and I can get to a nice finish with those.
I read that review somewhere! That's a fairly impressive tool. I bet there are impressive tools that would make the wife want to le- OOPS! NSFTB
Oddly enough, my in-laws had a basement chock full of old woodworking tools. Apparently, my mother-in-law's father was a journeyman carpenter. I snagged a bunch of stuff from there, though it's mostly seen MUCH better days (the #6 Stanley plane had a blade that was more rust than metal). But this big bastard was down there:
I just kept calling it a bastard file, though it seems kinda multi purpose, maybe a farrier's rasp? It needs some cleansing (any advice on that would be great!) but I may have to give it a shot to see what it can do.
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,016
- 1
- 31,730
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I bought a Shinto more than ten years ago, based on rave reviews here. I’ve used it a lot over the years. I suspect it’s getting dull from all that use, but I don’t know if that’s a thing, and if it is, how the heck would you go about sharpening one??
That looks an awful lot like the farrier's rasp that I bought, although mine has a rubber covers on each end so you use it comfortably. I wish the shinto and the Iwasaki had something similar. I ended up wearing work gloves while using the Iwasaki, it's sharp enough to be uncomfortable to hold if you want to put a hand on the far end, which I always do.I read that review somewhere! That's a fairly impressive tool. I bet there are impressive tools that would make the wife want to le- OOPS! NSFTB
Oddly enough, my in-laws had a basement chock full of old woodworking tools. Apparently, my mother-in-law's father was a journeyman carpenter. I snagged a bunch of stuff from there, though it's mostly seen MUCH better days (the #6 Stanley plane had a blade that was more rust than metal). But this big bastard was down there:
View attachment 3659808
View attachment 3659809
I just kept calling it a bastard file, though it seems kinda multi purpose, maybe a farrier's rasp? It needs some cleansing (any advice on that would be great!) but I may have to give it a shot to see what it can do.
https://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-Fa...2?keywords=farrier+rasp&qid=1578509173&sr=8-2
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
For yous guys lookin for a good pair of gloves, I use these.
https://www.amazon.com/12-Pack-Show...ds=nitrile+work+gloves&qid=1578529347&sr=8-27
https://www.amazon.com/12-Pack-Show...ds=nitrile+work+gloves&qid=1578529347&sr=8-27
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
Here's my first attempt at facet carving a neck. Using some of the specs given from a previous build and drawing my own asymmetrical profile, I plotted out the facets and then made some MDF templates for the 1st and 12th frets.
First I cut the neck to the approximate thickness and did my best to make the back area flat:
Then plotted the lines for the facets:
Then used various tools to cut the facets. The winning tool, by the way: SUREFORM (aka, cheese grater). While the rasps and files and block plane were helpful, the Sureform motored through this maple.
With those cut, I went to work with files, rasps, sander, plane, sanding block, and just paper.
Feels pretty good! I'm looking forward to getting this radiused and being able to feel how it fits into the hands. I'm sure more detail work will be in order, but so far, it's nice.
As for the body, I think I have all of the cutouts where I want them and it's just going to be hours and hours of hand-sanding to get the inner areas free of tool marks.
And or course, I need to see what color I want to make it. While the yellow is definitely interesting, I feel something a little darker would really help blend the different areas well.
Initially, I thought of this kind of finish because it seems like it would be relatively easy to just punch down the grain and see all of the accents:
But I'd definitely worry about the inner contrast areas. So I'm thinking lighter brownish color, accented grain lines, relatively smooth finish.
First I cut the neck to the approximate thickness and did my best to make the back area flat:
Then plotted the lines for the facets:
Then used various tools to cut the facets. The winning tool, by the way: SUREFORM (aka, cheese grater). While the rasps and files and block plane were helpful, the Sureform motored through this maple.
With those cut, I went to work with files, rasps, sander, plane, sanding block, and just paper.
Feels pretty good! I'm looking forward to getting this radiused and being able to feel how it fits into the hands. I'm sure more detail work will be in order, but so far, it's nice.
As for the body, I think I have all of the cutouts where I want them and it's just going to be hours and hours of hand-sanding to get the inner areas free of tool marks.
And or course, I need to see what color I want to make it. While the yellow is definitely interesting, I feel something a little darker would really help blend the different areas well.
Initially, I thought of this kind of finish because it seems like it would be relatively easy to just punch down the grain and see all of the accents:
But I'd definitely worry about the inner contrast areas. So I'm thinking lighter brownish color, accented grain lines, relatively smooth finish.
The body carving reminds me of wind-eroded canyons. Maybe a "red rocks" kinda color?
YES! BRILLIANT! Something kinda like this:
Thank you for that, I'm gonna see what I can find...
Yup, that's exactly what I was thinking. Maybe even a burst centered on the carving to emulate the graduation in that pic?
