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$100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 2:59 am
by Edmundo Azalde
I debated on joining this challenge since I am 0 and 2 on completing the previous challenges on time, but since the theme of this challenge is right up my alley I couldnt resist. I plan on building a classical guitar. With the exception of the top and the fingerboard all of the woods used were salvaged by me, within a 30 mile radius.

back and sides: Carob (Ceratonia Siliqua)
top: red cedar cosmetically challenged $5.00
neck: douglas fir (recycled old growth)
linings: Monterey Cypress
bridge: Almond
Head and Bindings : claro walnut
Fingerboard: tbd
bracing: redwood fans and doug fir bars

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:55 am
by Edmundo Azalde
I don't seem able to post any pictures. I keep getting a message about the board attachment quota being reached.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 3:19 am
by Jim McConkey
There is a temporary Forum-wide problem preventing anyone from uploading images. Please be patient. It should be fixed soon.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:41 pm
by Jim McConkey
The image problem has been fixed now, Edmundo. Please try again.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:02 pm
by Edmundo Azalde
Thanks Jim
I always assume that I am doing something wrong. You never know with software.
I managed to mill some of my wood. I made the head and bridge and also ripped some bindings.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:13 pm
by Edmundo Azalde
The Carob tree that I got the wood from was cut down by my neighbor across the street about six years ago. It was growing in the strip between the sidewalk and the road. It was small 12" in diameter at the most, which dictates that my back will be 4 pieces. I wanted to make the inner two pieces narrower than the outer two but as can be seen by the template I barely make it with equally sized wedges.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:22 pm
by Edmundo Azalde
I jointed and glued the inner pieces first. I inserted a walnut spacer between the joints. I repeated the process for the outer two pieces.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 10:24 pm
by Edmundo Azalde
Here is the completed back plate after cutting and cleaning up.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 3:35 am
by Tristan Williams
Wow, I'm loving the way that back plate worked out! Great stuff :D

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:12 pm
by Thomas Dooher
I love the look of that wood. Really different!

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:55 am
by Patrick DeGreve
Very nice start. I like the walnut strips between the panels, and the way they taper to the top. I think this is going to look very interesting.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 3:10 am
by Edmundo Azalde
Thanks for the encouragement guys. The Carob is a visually striking wood, it has tan hues and some bright red streaks that makes it look like it's bleeding . The taper to the back pieces is something that has been done throughout the history of the guitar when multiple piece backs were being used. It seems to have been very prevalent in 19th century Spain. I seem to be drawn to the guitars of that period.
I havent been able to work on the project much recently. I got a nasty flu that set me back a week or so. But before that I was able to complete a soundboard. Unfortunately it snapped on me while I flexed it, it must have had a defect because I didn't really flex it that much. So I got it into my head to make the rosette of the new soundboard with all native California woods. So I jointed and glued the new soundboard and milled some veneers for the rosette.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 3:14 am
by Edmundo Azalde
I made the inner mosaic ring out of Claro walnut and Monterey cypress. and inlaid them on the soundboard

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 3:26 am
by Edmundo Azalde
The inner/outer ring is a diamond mosaic of Redwood and Douglas fir. The lines are Claro Walnut and Madrone. I sawed my veneers and then thicknessed them by pull scraping them. I like how you can thickness the veneers quite accurately with this crude tool.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 9:05 am
by Steve Senseney
Nice rosette!!

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 9:06 am
by Tristan Williams
+1, that's a super cool rosette :)

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 12:33 pm
by david frassetto
That rosette looks great! I wish I had the patience to do something like that.

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 1:01 am
by Josh Humphrey
I really like the interesting woods you are using in this build! And I also love the wood based decorations. Very nice so far!

Re: $100 Local Materials Challenge: classical guitar-Edmundo Azalde

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 10:07 am
by Layne Campbell
I have never heard of thickness scraping, how does that work?