I noticed the 600mm rule I linked to above is metric on both sides. For one that has both metric and English graduations here is a link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blem-Cosmetic- ... SwajVUPAfV
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- Thu Jan 21, 2021 10:47 am
- Forum: Tools and Jigs
- Topic: Wow! Rulers Are Not the Same! Recommend An Accurate Straight-Edge?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 320
- Wed Jan 20, 2021 8:16 pm
- Forum: Tools and Jigs
- Topic: Wow! Rulers Are Not the Same! Recommend An Accurate Straight-Edge?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 320
Re: Wow! Rulers Are Not the Same! Recommend An Accurate Straight-Edge?
You're welcome! For fretboard layout I like the 2 ft. (600mm) rule. It is graduated in millimeters and 1/2 millimeters on one side and inches on the other (32nds and 64ths). I like using millimeters and 1/4 mm is about as fine as I can see anyway (the space between the 1/2 mm marks). I also bought a...
- Wed Jan 20, 2021 2:00 am
- Forum: Tools and Jigs
- Topic: Wow! Rulers Are Not the Same! Recommend An Accurate Straight-Edge?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 320
Re: Wow! Rulers Are Not the Same! Recommend An Accurate Straight-Edge?
These people deal in cosmetically blemished rulers and have decent quality for reasonable prices. I have bought several rulers from them and have always been happy with the product and service. They offer several different sizes and types. For a 3 ft rule: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Blem-Cosmetic-Seco...
- Wed Jan 20, 2021 1:33 am
- Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
- Topic: Viola damage repair question
- Replies: 5
- Views: 140
Re: Viola damage repair question
I clicked twice. Wherever you see varnish (however bruised) on the surface it means all of the original wood is still there. There are some missing bits you will have to build up the edge, but they are relatively minor. After getting as much of it to come back by steaming and hardening those fibers ...
- Mon Jan 18, 2021 12:27 am
- Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
- Topic: Viola damage repair question
- Replies: 5
- Views: 140
Re: Viola damage repair question
place a wetted rag on the damaged area and place a soldering iron on it (lightly) to create steam and steam the area to swell the wood back into shape. It may take awhile to steam it back into shape, but most of the wood will return to it's original shape. After it has you can saturate the spot with...
- Thu Jan 07, 2021 1:40 am
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Almost consistently bad glue joints...
- Replies: 18
- Views: 415
Re: Almost consistently bad glue joints...
What kind of humidity control was used? Inconsistent temperatures often lead to inconsistent humidity levels. If the guitar was glued up in a humid summer basement and moved to a heated low indoor humidity house that could cause glue joints to pop loose.
- Sat Dec 26, 2020 1:20 pm
- Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
- Topic: Making fretboard inlay dots
- Replies: 6
- Views: 718
Re: Making fretboard inlay dots
Nice video !
For small dots I've used fuller countersinks with the drill bit retracted - kind of like a mini plug cutter. Some people have mentioned gluing the inlay material to the end of a drill bit and sanding it flush to make it round.
Always nice to have more than one way to skin a cat.
For small dots I've used fuller countersinks with the drill bit retracted - kind of like a mini plug cutter. Some people have mentioned gluing the inlay material to the end of a drill bit and sanding it flush to make it round.
Always nice to have more than one way to skin a cat.
- Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:09 am
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Triple O - Dovetail neck doesn't seat - Photos
- Replies: 7
- Views: 817
Re: Triple O - Dovetail neck doesn't seat - Photos
Something to keep in mind is that the joint is initially made overly tight so adjustments can be made in all three axis. By careful sanding and fitting you can change the neck angle in relation to the top and centerline of the guitar, and also move it slightly to the left or right on the body. Uncar...
- Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:56 am
- Forum: Glues and Finishes
- Topic: No bubbles or brush marks with water borne finishes
- Replies: 8
- Views: 638
Re: No bubbles or brush marks with water borne finishes
Do you think the wetted surface that helps flow out might also affect the adhesion of the film? I would be curious to know.
- Sun Dec 13, 2020 7:29 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Blank thickness for glue up
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1014
Re: Blank thickness for glue up
" Making them thinner is not too hard, but I have yet to figure out a good way to make them thicker..."
Another layer of veneer, and some West System epoxy....
Another layer of veneer, and some West System epoxy....

- Sun Dec 13, 2020 7:17 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Lacquer available in canada
- Replies: 16
- Views: 5009
Re: Lacquer available in canada
Hi Brian,
I had a finish that was resistant to lacquer thinner, and I didn't have the old standby (methylene chloride) so I used a heat gun. You have to pay attention and be quick, but it did soften the finish and allow it to be scraped off easily (heat and scrape as you go).
I had a finish that was resistant to lacquer thinner, and I didn't have the old standby (methylene chloride) so I used a heat gun. You have to pay attention and be quick, but it did soften the finish and allow it to be scraped off easily (heat and scrape as you go).
- Fri Dec 11, 2020 12:36 pm
- Forum: Glues and Finishes
- Topic: Finish for cheapie kit uke
- Replies: 8
- Views: 672
Re: Finish for cheapie kit uke
Deft brushing lacquer was what we used in 7th grade woodshop. Easy to brush on, and dried to a nice dull (satin) finish. Some creative staining can help even the plainest plywood. Ukes come in all qualities and costs, but even the worst of the bunch can have some entertainment value, even if just he...
- Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:11 am
- Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
- Topic: Spanish style building repair?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2192
Re: Spanish style building repair?
I would be inclined to saw through the wedge and remove it, leaving the fingerboard and neck intact. Replace the top, slipping it under the fingerboard, and then replace the wedge.
- Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:28 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Ideas? Dinged Spruce Soundboard (photos)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1154
Re: Ideas? Dinged Spruce Soundboard (photos)
Hi Paul, I should have been more clear - I would not recommend using superglue on spruce. It was something I used on furniture where the corners were so badly crushed that even after they regained their shape they didn't have enough structural integrity. Those small spruce divots should bee fine onc...
- Tue Dec 01, 2020 11:35 am
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Ideas? Dinged Spruce Soundboard (photos)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1154
Re: Ideas? Dinged Spruce Soundboard (photos)
If steaming fails, try, try again. I used to repair and touch-up furniture and some pieces that had corners crushed in an inch or more when steamed for more than an hour regained most of their original shape. I would then wick in thin superglue to give the wood some integrity. As Peter said, it look...
- Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:25 pm
- Forum: Ukuleles
- Topic: Tuner holes on purchased neck larger than tuner collar
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1015
Re: Tuner holes on purchased neck larger than tuner collar
I bought some of those premade necks for some cigar box ukes I made. I wanted to keep the peghead weight down, so I plugged the holes, added a thin face veneer, and redrilled them so I could leave off the bushings. It does seem like they drilled overly large holes for most tuner applications.
- Fri Nov 13, 2020 7:12 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1660
Re: Ugh! Big Bad Router Screw-Up. Suggestions Please.
Not pressing the bearing against the side hard enough to keep it from spinning with the bit can be a problem. Assuming your bearing is greased properly and the bit spins freely then you should put enough pressure against the side so the bearing "rolls" while the cutter "spins".
- Wed Nov 11, 2020 6:30 pm
- Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: New Selmer/Maccaferri style guitar
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1537
Re: New Selmer/Maccaferri style guitar
I would encourage you to continue with your laminating experiments. It can allow you to use some exceptionally beautiful veneers in a cost effective manner. Laminating rosewood veneer to softwoods is not a new idea. It was practiced in the mid 1800's until the price of imported wood dropped enough t...
- Tue Nov 10, 2020 7:51 pm
- Forum: Ukuleles
- Topic: Where to get vintage wood tuner pegs?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1028
Re: Where to get vintage wood tuner pegs?
You might be able to fit a set of rosewood or boxwood violin pegs to the uke. If you know any wood turners you might be able to have a set turned.
- Sun Nov 01, 2020 10:13 am
- Forum: Tools and Jigs
- Topic: Fretting Templates
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2056
Re: Fretting Templates
If you can get them to add a couple of frets to the bottom of the template you can use some (23 fret) bass scales to double as guitar templates. A 34 inch bass scale can also be used as a 25.5" guitar scale with the addition of two frets at the bottom (to make 20 frets). It will also work for a 27 i...