Search found 27 matches

by Nelson Palen
Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:39 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Continue to build or hang it up?
Replies: 13
Views: 13652

Re: Continue to build or hang it up?

Hey guys, I’m a bit overwhelmed by all the replies including well wishes and advice. This is a tough life decision for me as I’m now retired with time on my hands. The majority of the archtops were built while I was still working the full time day job. The irony is that the hours were tough at times...
by Nelson Palen
Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:48 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Continue to build or hang it up?
Replies: 13
Views: 13652

Continue to build or hang it up?

Hi guys and gals. I haven’t posted a whole lot lately while taking a break from building after 95 archtops in the last dozen years. I’ve developed some health issues between the sawdust and lacquer fumes and need to decide how to proceed. I think the nitro lacquer is the main culprit as I have alway...
by Nelson Palen
Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:34 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Binding Radius Cutter
Replies: 2
Views: 5613

Re: Binding Radius Cutter

Glad you like it, Dave.
I was concerned that it would be difficult to hold the tool level enough to get a consistent cut but seems to work okay. I had thought of using a Dremel but was unable to find a source for a piloted cutter with the small shank (1/8") to fit a Dremel.
by Nelson Palen
Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:29 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Binding Radius Cutter
Replies: 2
Views: 5613

Binding Radius Cutter

In the past I've always done the body binding radius by hand but it's a tedious process. These pics show an attachment for a small pneumatic die grinder to allow using a corner rounding bit (1/16" R.) with 0.500" pilot bearing. I made the sleeve from 1.5" diameter aluminum stock by st...
by Nelson Palen
Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:21 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Building the Hofner "Beatle Bass"
Replies: 14
Views: 14318

Re: Building the Hofner "Beatle Bass"

Gotta get me one of them there glueboxes. :D
Seriously, it is an interesting video.
by Nelson Palen
Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:40 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Replace a 3 phase motor with single phase; equivalent power?
Replies: 43
Views: 55578

Re: Replace a 3 phase motor with single phase; equivalent power?

David, you presented enough evidence to make a believer out of this old man. Makes sense to me now and interesting discussion.
Nelson
by Nelson Palen
Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:11 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Replace a 3 phase motor with single phase; equivalent power?
Replies: 43
Views: 55578

Re: Replace a 3 phase motor with single phase; equivalent power?

I've been around machine tools all of my working career and I've never heard of one type of motor making a better finish than another. Is that some kind of old wives tale?
by Nelson Palen
Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:15 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Sanding Primer
Replies: 8
Views: 8848

Re: Sanding Primer

I like the scraper marking idea, Dave. I used the scraper to this point but it sure has to be sharp to avoid tearout on the figure. After a little more thinking about the white coating I mentioned in the first post, I believe that was a kind of masking material. It was to be brushed or sprayer on an...
by Nelson Palen
Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:39 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Sanding Primer
Replies: 8
Views: 8848

Re: Sanding Primer

This is the particular area. I can get by using the low light method but just thought there might be a quick trick of which I was unaware. It's a little time consuming to get the transition ridge nice and uniform. I don't do a lot of Florentines but have some in the works currently. I do this type o...
by Nelson Palen
Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:28 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Sanding Primer
Replies: 8
Views: 8848

Sanding Primer

What do you guys and gals use to highight contour when doing fine carving and sanding on highly figured woods? That would be flamed maple in this case and carving the transition ridge between a Florentine cutaway and the rest of the plate on an archtop. I know that the autobody people use sanding pr...
by Nelson Palen
Wed Mar 21, 2012 4:07 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: MIMF Archtop Guitar Project
Replies: 65
Views: 780739

Re: MIMF Archtop Guitar Project

Is that California bedtime or UTC bedtime?
by Nelson Palen
Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:02 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Unorthodox X-bracing
Replies: 6
Views: 8395

Re: Unorthodox X-bracing

a few years ago I used some bracing like this. In '98 I used bracing of this type for the very light back plate to good results. For tops I have used this style of brace for only 2 instruments. As long as the glue joints are strong there is no detrimental result that I know of. I leave one brace co...
by Nelson Palen
Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:23 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Free CAD software for Windows 7?
Replies: 12
Views: 17806

Re: Free CAD software for Windows 7?

Hello Jon,
You should be able to use Windows7 "Program Compatibility Troubleshooter" to install your older software. Do a search for it in windows7 help. It will let you run the setup file in compatibility mode. Worked for an old version of Autocad anyways.
Nelson
by Nelson Palen
Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:49 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Where do I find oversized veneers for an archtop headplate?
Replies: 8
Views: 11619

Re: Where do I find oversized veneers for an archtop headplate?

Will you be applying binding and purflin to your headstock? If so, that reduces the width requirement for the veneer.
by Nelson Palen
Sat Mar 10, 2012 4:23 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Where do I find oversized veneers for an archtop headplate?
Replies: 8
Views: 11619

Re: Where do I find oversized veneers for an archtop headplate?

Philip, one solution is to bookmatch a piece of material to get the desired width leaving the seam down the center of the headstock. Another would be to splice small pieces along the outside edges of your veneer. Ebony is very forgiving as it blends very well. A good glue joint is key when bookmatch...
by Nelson Palen
Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:43 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Supplied air face mask?
Replies: 34
Views: 36221

Re: Supplied air face mask?

Sorry for being "after the fact" here, Arnt. I hated to be negative after you said you had ordered the Trend airshield, you may find that it works quite well for your needs. Having allergies is seriously not fun and anything you can do to prevent reactions is time and money well spent. Nel...
by Nelson Palen
Wed Mar 07, 2012 2:12 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Supplied air face mask?
Replies: 34
Views: 36221

Re: Supplied air face mask?

I have the Trend Airshield Pro but rarely use it as it is very cumbersome to put on as well as remove and takes up a lot of space when not being used. Other than that it's okay. :) With that said, the filtered air passing over the user's face has a cooling effect as Charlie alluded to above. I have ...
by Nelson Palen
Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:02 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Off Center Neck
Replies: 22
Views: 27567

Re: Off Center Neck

Good to hear from you also, Michael! Do you prefer straight or tapered dovetail?
Edit: I use a straight but the body dovetail is narrower at the bottom end where the string load puts it in tension.
by Nelson Palen
Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:41 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Off Center Neck
Replies: 22
Views: 27567

Re: Off Center Neck

Mark, I could possibly see gluing only the dovetail if the body and neck were going to be finished seperately and then assembled. Probably would also need to allow a little bit of "room" for finish thickness when flossing if assembling after finishing. I've never had to floss an archtop ne...
by Nelson Palen
Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:28 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Off Center Neck
Replies: 22
Views: 27567

Re: Off Center Neck

Dave and Michael,
I understand the utility of the undercut mentioned but my concern is that some glue surface will be lost if the undercut if too deep.
Maybe you're talking just a couple thousandths undercut so that glue strength isn't affected significantly?
Nelson

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