Texcaster Loc: Queensland

This is a copy of my posts today on a luthier and a woodworking forum. I know some of you are interested in both.




My bandsaw is only a 14in and my machinery weak link. It's powerful enough to cut 4in Rock Maple cabriole legs easily but not enough grunt for serious resawing. I do my resawing on my table saw. It cuts 105mm above the table, anything over 210mm is finished off by hand. I'm in the tonewood outlaw band, those not using officially sanctioned timber. Most prominent Luthiers build an instrument out of ordinary timber to show their ability to make ordinary stuff preform like AAA grade. It's probably the future.

I cut 5 back and side sets today. Yesterday I broke down 2 massive slabs to suit dressing on my 16in jointer/planer. Only one lump was back and side grade. I have a 30mm piece left for sides, the other pieces will yield necks and other parts.

The timber is Silky Oak and will be combined with 100 year old Sequoia mirror backs for the tops on 2 guitars. Back, sides and neck will be stained a darkish red/ brown, Solomon Blackwood binding and W-B-W purfling. Similar to the neck shown. I like a very understated guitar these days.

I work in conditions I wouldn't tolerate from a boss. Fortunatly I built the shed with massive doors all 4 sides.

sleepy51 Loc: Makoshika Park--Montana

Some of the"best work" was done with old tools, and the best Craftsman. Still amazes me how some of the old houses with that fancy trimwork was done, and the corners all fit tight. I think we call your Silky-Oak, Quartersawn Oak here in the states. Do we get to see the finished product? Beautiful work Texcaster.

DigitalDon Loc: Calgary, Alberta

Good pics of an interesting hobby. In pic 3 you show the sides really well. What is the final thickness and how is it formed? Is there a mould and steam? . . . . . and what is maggie doing in the pic, she looks like she was doing the scribing! Good capture!

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

Thanks Don, the early settlers named our timbers after similar looking northern hemisphere timbers. This does indeed look like Quartered Oak but isn't a Quercus.

To date I've only made carved top and back Archtops. This will be my first flat top. Some earlier ones.

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

Thanks for looking and commenting Don. I cut the timber 5mm. After working it the sides, top and back are sub 3mm. The sides are steam bent on a hot pipe. No soaking, I spritz the side and go to the hot pipe. It dries in a mould. The Magpies are always around now that I feed them.

DigitalDon Loc: Calgary, Alberta

Wow, thanks for the reply, now I can go to bed! Glad I haven't undertaken projects like these, WOW!

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

Don, if you are keen to have a go at this sort of thing, a uke is a good place to start. It's just like building a guitar but on a very manageable scale.