Search found 39 matches

by Tom Sommerville
Mon Jan 05, 2015 8:04 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Care to share your wood knowledge?
Replies: 24
Views: 33343

Re: Care to share your wood knowledge?

Dennis, I don't even think of using cocobolo anymore. However, as to your other allergies, consider this: I'm seeing an allergist and following a more recent desensitization therapy; instead of shots, you place a couple of drops of the allergens under the tongue every morning. It's helped me, and it...
by Tom Sommerville
Mon Jan 05, 2015 7:51 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: A SM Rabbet bearing assignment for someone
Replies: 10
Views: 8791

Re: A SM Rabbet bearing assignment for someone

One thing I've discovered is that you can rout a 1/16 " ledge for binding using a 1/2" flush trim with a 3/8" diameter bearing. I think the bearings are mounted on a 3/16" "watchamacallit" (extension? mandrell?) The tighter radius may be better in minimizing chipping or...
by Tom Sommerville
Wed Oct 01, 2014 1:14 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Truss rod slots: curved vs. straight
Replies: 34
Views: 27174

Re: Truss rod slots: curved vs. straight

I prefer single rods to the two way or double rods for two reasons: 1. they are lighter 2. the bending point of the rod and it's influence on the neck set can be precisely located. 3. Additionally--I think--the rod can stiffen the neck a little; at any rate I'm certain that the double rod has very l...
by Tom Sommerville
Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:33 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: local wood acoustic
Replies: 10
Views: 13880

Re: local wood acoustic

I've been looking for well-quartered cypress wood but found none locally in the widths I'm looking for.
Can anyone recommend an on-line source?

Thanks
by Tom Sommerville
Thu May 29, 2014 1:35 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: tuning effect on guitar neck
Replies: 6
Views: 5538

Re: tuning effect on guitar neck

You can think of the neck as a ship's mast, where the strings act as guy wires. The truss rod in steel sting, and some nylon instruments, are designed to counter act the pull of the strings in a way that can be periodically adjusted. So, yes, tensioning the low e string will cause the neck to deflec...
by Tom Sommerville
Thu May 29, 2014 1:15 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD TO BE ILLEGAL
Replies: 20
Views: 14336

Re: BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD TO BE ILLEGAL

What Clay said.

Bet your life on it.
by Tom Sommerville
Wed May 28, 2014 10:11 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD TO BE ILLEGAL
Replies: 20
Views: 14336

Re: BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD TO BE ILLEGAL

I predict that we'll suddenly discover here-to-fore unknown hordes of Ramirez, Santos, Torres, etc. treasures.
by Tom Sommerville
Mon May 12, 2014 2:02 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Removing scratches
Replies: 16
Views: 19006

Re: Removing scratches

A question to all: Suppose Karl picked up a pint of lacquer thinner, or acetone, carefully masked the area 3mm or so on either side of the scratch, and using a fine sable or similarly soft brush, lightly flowed or puddled the solvent into the crack, allowed it to flash off, and then repeat? A few re...
by Tom Sommerville
Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:20 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Cracked soundboard
Replies: 11
Views: 11799

Re: Cracked soundboard

What Mike Lewis said. I'd try a little bleach-- start with hydrogen peroxide. If that doesn't work, try Oxalic acid, and then chlorine bleach--easy does it, let it dry between treatments. A cheap artist brush can be trimmed to make the hair stiff enough to scrub. If using Oxalic acid or bleach, I se...
by Tom Sommerville
Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:00 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Humphery Millenium
Replies: 7
Views: 7048

Re: Humphery Millenium

Sonnerup,

I don't think I'd have done it any different.

Nice work.

Tom
by Tom Sommerville
Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:16 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Humphery Millenium
Replies: 7
Views: 7048

Re: Humphery Millenium

Definitely post pictures, and include a shot of the neck, from the headstock to the bridge. The millenium guitars were designed with the neck tilted forward so that the strings would exert more of a pull on the soundboard, somewhat in the way the strings of a harp couple with the soundboard and thus...
by Tom Sommerville
Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:44 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Converted thickness planer
Replies: 29
Views: 30458

Re: Converted thickness planer

Hi Clay, I have a "Rigid" brand planer from Big Orange and taken wood down to around 5/32 with a 3/4" backing plate. But I did have a blow-out when I tried it with padauk, serious enough to make me abandon the effort. It seems the cutter adjustment wasn't as accurate as claimed. Groov...
by Tom Sommerville
Sun Nov 03, 2013 2:41 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Converted thickness planer
Replies: 29
Views: 30458

Re: Converted thickness planer

I'm just curious: Has anyone ever used toothed or serrated planer blades? Let's say you took a set of knives and ground a series of notches 3mm apart, sharpened and offset them on the cutter-head. Do you think that would allow you to thickness down to .1"-3mm or so? Would you dare try such a th...
by Tom Sommerville
Mon Oct 14, 2013 7:02 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: I made a resawing video!
Replies: 31
Views: 23140

Re: I made a resawing video!

Hi Chuck, Excellent video. I've used the wood slicer blades and found them to dull very quickly. I think the tooth count is too high for the thickness of the lumber we need. You can buy 2 tpi blades and they should run cooler for you. I'd also use a lubricant on he blade, especially for green wood. ...
by Tom Sommerville
Thu Oct 03, 2013 6:30 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Vacuum press without a lot of work
Replies: 20
Views: 16261

Re: Vacuum press without a lot of work

I've been using a Thomas pump but it's loud and I can't stand to be around it. There used to be information on the fridge/freezer compressor set-up. They are quiet. I got a compressor from a junk dealer, but it needs a start capacitor to run. If anyone knows about how wiring the thing, and how to ke...
by Tom Sommerville
Thu Oct 03, 2013 6:02 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Pickguard brackets
Replies: 2
Views: 3289

Re: Pickguard brackets

If this is restoration then you should look at StewMac. There's also an outfit on that big online auction site, located in Canada, with brackets that will do the job. If this instrument is your own work, or a generic factory instrument , make your own: a die, say 10-32, a matching tap, some 3/16&quo...
by Tom Sommerville
Sun May 26, 2013 9:33 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Feasibility of three-piece sides?
Replies: 37
Views: 22781

Re: Feasibility of three-piece sides?

Consider a violin style design, with separate sections at the waist.
by Tom Sommerville
Tue May 21, 2013 5:14 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: About tuning a plane
Replies: 15
Views: 12233

Re: About tuning a plane

Check the sole for flatness again, but with the blade installed. Clamping the blade will stress the sole and distort it, often creating a vexing convexity behind the blade.
For this reason it's best to flatten the sole with the blade installed but safely retracted.
by Tom Sommerville
Sun Apr 28, 2013 6:32 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Dark Glue Line in Scarf Joint
Replies: 12
Views: 9665

Re: Dark Glue Line in Scarf Joint

In the future I'd recommend a water-based glue over epoxy-- Titebond, LMI or HHG glues provide a bond exceeding the strength of the wood, and cure out to a much thinner glue line. Epoxy is almost all solid, so what you have when you make the joint remains after cure; the water in H20 glue evaporates...
by Tom Sommerville
Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:33 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: classical top touchup
Replies: 20
Views: 19805

Re: classical top touchup

Clamping is absolutely necessary with poly glue. It expands as it cures. Many praise it for its "gap filling" qualities, but this is wrong. Unless the mating surfaces are in perfect contact your joint will be a web of foam. The cohesive strength of poly is very low. Water based glues, on t...

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