Search found 234 matches

by Bob Howell
Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:46 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Neck Laminations / Deep Penetrating Stain
Replies: 9
Views: 12436

Re: Neck Laminations / Deep Penetrating Stain

I am gluing up sandwich of 1" soft maple with 1" of 5-6 strips of red and white 1/8" and black veneer mixed. This is for Classical necks. I used dyed poplar thick but scraped. I have laminated necks for steel string but put 3/4" soft maple in center and strips 1/16 -1/4" red...
by Bob Howell
Tue Jul 25, 2023 4:06 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Make a tight radius bending iron
Replies: 7
Views: 12629

Re: Make a tight radius bending iron

A friend is making one and directions he found said use Al foil. He found supply of Al shavings on some site for maybe $20. Pack it in and drill hole. Some site had discussion of technique. I'm looking for the heating element as 10 years ago a water heater element was suggested. My friend is traveli...
by Bob Howell
Thu Jul 06, 2023 7:29 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Sound Boards
Replies: 10
Views: 17088

Re: Sound Boards

Alaska Specialty Woods Has an ultra-light sort of tops from a group of old logs. Sounds like it would be great for Classicals.
by Bob Howell
Wed Jun 28, 2023 2:33 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Sound Boards
Replies: 10
Views: 17088

Re: Sound Boards

Can you use the growth lines to select a good Sitka spruce top for Classical guitar. Fast growth - wide rings, but is it lighter? I seem to recall summer growth is denser, but I am recalling conflicting information. I picked out a wide grain Sitka top now not sure. I had choice of 6 sets from a box ...
by Bob Howell
Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:16 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Persimmon lumber
Replies: 5
Views: 8717

Re: Persimmon lumber

Borax or some form of it kills bugs. I lost a lot of wood to bugs so am taking measures now.

Be careful
by Bob Howell
Tue May 04, 2021 3:50 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Maple log
Replies: 16
Views: 28252

Re: Maple log

Lots of potential wood like that just rots away.

Sad but common
by Bob Howell
Mon Apr 19, 2021 9:31 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Maple log
Replies: 16
Views: 28252

Re: Maple log

curious what you did here.
by Bob Howell
Fri Apr 16, 2021 8:42 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: american chestnut
Replies: 15
Views: 13696

Re: american chestnut

Thanks for the positive comments. Bob I' ve got some sycamore air drying in the shed along with plenty of walnut,cherry,maple,paulownia and a few others. I don't have any osage but I am using mulberry for my next acoustic guitar neck and I may try a locust for a neck in the near future . The americ...
by Bob Howell
Fri Apr 16, 2021 8:38 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: american chestnut
Replies: 15
Views: 13696

Re: american chestnut

Alan Carruth wrote: Fri Apr 16, 2021 10:20 am Osage takes on a much nicer color when ammonia fumed.
I tried Black and dark brown transtint dye but looks splotchy. I did not try fuming but will now.
by Bob Howell
Fri Apr 16, 2021 9:07 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: american chestnut
Replies: 15
Views: 13696

Re: american chestnut

The most exciting wood here in Ga I have found is sycamore I got from a small sawmill in Perry Ga several years ago. I found it beautiful AND IT HAS A good reputation. I got a beautiful Osage log from here in North Atlanta But the color didn't excite me. Sound is great. With a sawmill you might find...
by Bob Howell
Fri Nov 06, 2020 9:41 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: water based finish over linseed oil
Replies: 10
Views: 11942

Re: water based finish over linseed oil

I switched to Pure TUNG oil on light wood. Over the years I have used figured Maple a lot and want oil for initial wash coat. Even driers will tint it brown. Dilute it and give it several days to dry. It is the best of naturally drying oils due to molecular structure. I have had old linseed oils rem...
by Bob Howell
Wed Aug 05, 2020 8:11 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Maple log
Replies: 16
Views: 28252

Re: Maple log

That is small enough to cut up on bandsaw. You would split with ax or chainsaw first and go for it.I don't think age is an issue.

Scale is difficult but I don't see a guitar in there. Lots of figure showing.

Drum is a natural.
by Bob Howell
Sun Jul 05, 2020 8:31 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Pecan for acoustic guitar
Replies: 7
Views: 6738

Re: Pecan for acoustic guitar

Its classified as a hickory in the lumber industry. The most important factor will be how the tree grew; most are pruned to produce nuts with branching at 4-8" into 3 or 4 major branches. So the bulk of tree will have reaction wood throughout and be unstable. If it grew in a forested area and l...
by Bob Howell
Thu May 14, 2020 9:41 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Osage Orange slab- yes, no?
Replies: 9
Views: 14003

Re: Osage Orange slab- yes, no?

One other thing. Shipping on that slab could run about the cost of the wood.
by Bob Howell
Thu May 14, 2020 9:38 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Osage Orange slab- yes, no?
Replies: 9
Views: 14003

Re: Osage Orange slab- yes, no?

I'm thinking it was cut for natural edge table top. That's the way he chose to cut it. I found several here in Atlanta but it had knots everywhere; no way to get what I needed for sides. I ended up trading with Bob above and it worked out fine. A beautiful table top can still have knots and checks e...
by Bob Howell
Thu May 14, 2020 6:04 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Great tool for cleaning up binding channels
Replies: 3
Views: 5343

Re: Great tool for cleaning up binding channels

Highland Woodworking has selection of their hand tools and drill press model. I bought it 15yrs ago so not sure they still carry it. About 3/8" sq. MicroPlane now produce a lot of food graters as cooks were talking up their products on cooking shows. I mark the channel with a cutting gage. Rout...
by Bob Howell
Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:36 pm
Forum: Challenges
Topic: Lathe made musical instruments
Replies: 12
Views: 41076

Re: Lathe made musical instruments

I have read about a number of bowls harps. Even a guy, Tony in England says its his idea and no one else can make one.
by Bob Howell
Thu Apr 16, 2020 2:03 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Great tool for cleaning up binding channels
Replies: 3
Views: 5343

Great tool for cleaning up binding channels

Had this Microplane tool for years. Today noticed it was perfect for cleaning up binding channels.
6506E321-EDDC-4E4B-91A0-ADAC6E7F1750.jpeg
6506E321-EDDC-4E4B-91A0-ADAC6E7F1750.jpeg (33.61 KiB) Viewed 5343 times
by Bob Howell
Sun Mar 01, 2020 9:36 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Glue spreader applicator
Replies: 19
Views: 22558

Re: Glue spreader applicator

Device shown in first post looks like stamp or tape moistener from long ago. Office supply house item. I saw one in 1971-2.
by Bob Howell
Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:25 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Single phase, 3 phase power tools in Australia
Replies: 8
Views: 8436

Re: Single phase, 3 phase power tools in Australia

I put a VFD on an old lathe 10 years ago. They are intimidating to read about but most have a simple solution. I used the cook book setup for a fan motor. Dust is a problem but I built a box for protection. I studied the manual for a month then realized I had found a simple setup to use.

Go to advanced search