MIMF

You are technically correct that the final end tuning might have to be done at the end. You need to start with undersized holes because you can make a small hole bigger, but not visa versa. The larger holes will effectively lengthen the instrument, so the total length my have to be corrected at the ...

Before I even get started, in my experience none of these flute calculators is very exact. They should get you in the ballpark, but you always have to fine tune. First, I suspect the bell frequency you are using is way too low. My D flute (~293 Hz) is roughly 22" long. Your 11" E flute should be jus...

Sounds like something is shorting out, or maybe the capacitor is shot. If it ever becomes more trouble than it's worth, there is a recall out on most of those old Craftsman radial arm saws and they will pay you $100 to take back the motor. Take the check and buy a new sander.

Love that walnut!

The collars are designed to be annoying, but safe. If you want something less drastic, try clicker training. The clicker makes a sharp, loud noise that can be just as effective.

Stew-Mac carries the drums and sanding sleeves, and you can see what the real Luthier's Friend sanding station looks like here: https://www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=sanding%20drum One of these days I need to get around to posting my homemade version. Amazon, Home Depot, and various other sourc...

That is exactly the basic idea. My version uses a sanding cylinder with bearing in a drill press, so both the top and bottom are secured, but a 1/2" shaft on a spindle sander is probably not going anywhere.

The drum itself is some kind of rubber, so when you tighten the bolt, it expands slightly to hold the sandpaper cylinder in place. There is a large bearing on the bottom that you fit into a like-sized hole in a baseplate mounted to the drill press table. With the spindle in the chuck, and the bearin...

Too late now, but another good option for thinning dulcimer sides is something along the lines of what is sold as the Luthier's Friend Sanding Station, which is basically a drillpress-mounted sanding cylinder with a bottom bearing and an adjustable block next to it. Very easy to make if you don't wa...

Better yet, just put "How to make a cuica" into YouTube. There are a whole bunch of videos on it. This page has some nice closeups of how the stick is attached. The stick, normally bamboo, has a lump on the end. You would soak the head in water until it becomes very pliable, drape the skin over the ...

Have you got a picture or video? I can't say I've ever seen one.

Heads are usually goat hide or similar. Search drum head skin, or try https://www.drumfactorydirect.com/. You might also look at Mid-East Manufacturing's web site. They make a lot of odd percussion instruments.

The tuners Barry mentioned are made by Wittner, Knilling, and Pegheds. I have used Wittners on several instruments, and they are great!

Soundholes are entirely up to your taste. Hearts are traditional, but any sort of shape can work, as long as the area is about the same. If you plan on making intricate designs, I would strongly recommend gluing a thin patch with the grain perpendicular to the top inside the soundboard. One of my du...

I hollow my fretboards first, glue to the already-joined top, then remove the portion of the top under the hollow after everything has dried. I agree with Clay's suggestion of 5/8" to 3/4". I wouldn't want it any higher myself. I also relieve the underside of my fretboads over the tail block. That i...

For those who don't remember back that far, the MIMF was launched on this day 22 years ago. Not quite the same without Deb's occasional Whap!, but still one of the more civilized forums on the internet. I remember the days when we used to celebrate our anniversary with chocolate and an actual real-t...

I had a quick look. This guy https://www.gad.net/Blog/2017/05/30/guild-guitar-factories/ is like you and wants to find old guitar factories. He identified the former Guild factory as the building currently known as the Jonnycake Center on Industrial Drive in Westerly, RI At the bottom of this Guild ...

Elmers is also great for gluing paper templates to shell during cutting of custom inlay pieces. After your piece is all cut out, drop in a cup of water for a bit, and the paper comes right off.

I have built and played dulcimers for over 40 years, and the one I built entirely of oak (OK, the fingerboard was walnut), is still my favorite of them all. And that is some beautiful oak you have there. Go for it! Alan, as Dale said, dulcimers are a lot more forgiving because they are so narrow and...

Maybe your next build should be a dust collector! A DIY Oneida Dust Deputy, a bucket, and a small shop vac will build a fine one cheap.

Can't wait to see this come together!

Just to consolidate info, I am copying Brian Evans' post here: I look up this website every single time I cut a scarf joint. I always forget how to do it between times.... http://www.mirwa.com.au/HTS_Headstock_Scarf_Joint.html And speaking of cutting scarf joints, Kathy Matsushita has good details a...