Search found 816 matches

by Mario Proulx
Thu Dec 19, 2019 3:30 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Can woods used in the manufacture of pianos be repurposed?
Replies: 7
Views: 12572

Re: Can woods used in the manufacture of pianos be repurposed?

Many of the better ones had BRW veneer, even the benches. While it's doubtful that you could reuse it as backs and sides, it makes fantastic headplates!
by Mario Proulx
Thu Oct 31, 2019 3:30 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Force required to fret a guitar string?
Replies: 14
Views: 17051

Re: Force required to fret a guitar string?

I mangled my left thumb(literally tore the tendons that hold it, right off the bone) in 2016. The only thing I could play for a while was my telecaster with .009's, tuned a full step down.

Could you tune your guitar to an open tuning and use your entire hand, somehow, to fret it?
by Mario Proulx
Mon Mar 25, 2019 12:04 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Retail CA - which is best?
Replies: 27
Views: 24455

Re: Retail CA - which is best?

I wouldn't recommend anything generic from WallyWorld. But at a dollar or so a piece, it's worth trying various hardware store brands. The one I'm using is a Home Hardware Stores "Home-Bond" tube. I've used LocTite and other more expensive tubes, and can find no difference. I don't use eno...
by Mario Proulx
Sun Mar 24, 2019 1:47 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Retail CA - which is best?
Replies: 27
Views: 24455

Re: Retail CA - which is best?

The vast majority of CA that I use is simply the generic little tubes from the local hardware store...
by Mario Proulx
Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:10 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Shop made air filter advice
Replies: 18
Views: 19477

Re: Shop made air filter advice

Having re-read the entire old thread, it appears incomplete, so here goes. I did close off the opening across from the blower, but I didn't cut the wall to add ducting. What I did do is to remove the diffusers at the top of the wall and enlarged the area of each one. And while I originally had a 4 h...
by Mario Proulx
Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:00 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Shop made air filter advice
Replies: 18
Views: 19477

Re: Shop made air filter advice

Here are my filters. There are three filters in each bank, with the final one inside being a very fine filter.
by Mario Proulx
Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:46 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Shop made air filter advice
Replies: 18
Views: 19477

Re: Shop made air filter advice

Here, I found it. And seeing those photos now, I have modified it a bit. I now have two filter banks. Photos to follow...

http://www.mimf.com/library/Mario_Proul ... -2008.html
by Mario Proulx
Thu Mar 14, 2019 1:35 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Shop made air filter advice
Replies: 18
Views: 19477

Re: Shop made air filter advice

Somewhere in the archives, you'll find my air cleaner setup. All these years later, I have yet to modify it, as it works perfectly. Quiet, too....
by Mario Proulx
Wed Mar 06, 2019 2:16 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Adhesive for pick guard
Replies: 7
Views: 7859

Re: Adhesive for pick guard

Nothing. Absolutely nothing, will hold that fella down. Many have tried, many have died.

Once these insanely thick old Yammy 'guards begin to twist and shout, there's no stopping them.

Make a new one...
by Mario Proulx
Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:03 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Odorless mineral spirits as lubricant for French Polish
Replies: 32
Views: 27511

Re: Odorless mineral spirits as lubricant for French Polish

Naphtha is pretty much oderless.

The question here is, what have they done to the naphtha to make it "hydrotreated"...
by Mario Proulx
Fri Jan 25, 2019 2:26 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Odorless mineral spirits as lubricant for French Polish
Replies: 32
Views: 27511

Re: Odorless mineral spirits as lubricant for French Polish

Found the MSDS... All they declare for contents is "Hydrotreated light distillate (petroleum)".
by Mario Proulx
Fri Jan 25, 2019 2:20 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Odorless mineral spirits as lubricant for French Polish
Replies: 32
Views: 27511

Re: Odorless mineral spirits as lubricant for French Polish

I've had plenty of walnut oil go rancid, including the bottle I just checked right now.

If yours does go rancid, it isn't pure.

What's sold here(Ontario) as oderless paint thinner is naphtha. Can you see anything on your can that even hints at what the contents are? Interesting find...
by Mario Proulx
Sat Jan 19, 2019 2:51 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Just for the fun of it - DIY tube amp
Replies: 11
Views: 14318

Re: Just for the fun of it - DIY tube amp

A typical 6L6 guitar amp runs 35 to 40 watts.

And yes, if the power transformer isn't strong enough, the wattage won't be there, and you'll soon kill the transformer. You'd be better off switch to a pair of 6V6
by Mario Proulx
Sat Jan 19, 2019 12:48 am
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Just for the fun of it - DIY tube amp
Replies: 11
Views: 14318

Re: Just for the fun of it - DIY tube amp

How are you only getting 12 watts from two 6L6? Do you have it biased low, or very little gain in the preamp section?
by Mario Proulx
Fri Dec 07, 2018 3:59 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: A few questions about the mandolin family
Replies: 9
Views: 14480

Re: A few questions about the mandolin family

LOL....!

Kids, the mandolin is an Italian instrument that was around long before Orville Gibson was even born...!

And early Gibson mandolins had fairly wide necks, well over 1-1/4" wide at the nut.
by Mario Proulx
Sat Dec 01, 2018 12:19 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Tools I wish I never bought
Replies: 27
Views: 37676

Re: Tools I wish I never bought

I had never read this thread before now.... Kinda funny. Every. Single. Bridge., on every guitar I have built or repaired has been held down by three old wood cam clamps. Yet someone here said he regrets buying them... I also never pass-up a Dremel at a yard/estate sale. Yeah, they're under-powered,...
by Mario Proulx
Thu Nov 15, 2018 10:25 pm
Forum: The Soundhole
Topic: Google Map of the MIMF
Replies: 23
Views: 57850

Re: Google Map of the MIMF

Added myself...
by Mario Proulx
Mon Nov 05, 2018 2:19 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Exasperatedly sanding cocobolo
Replies: 16
Views: 16710

Re: Exasperatedly sanding cocobolo

Hand plane to the rough radius, then sand to final radius with nothing finer than 40 grit. 36 is even better. The progress to the final grit that you desire.


Some cocobolo will sand nicely without gumming, others will frustrate to no end... ;)
by Mario Proulx
Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:38 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: A request for advice on bracing
Replies: 9
Views: 9913

Re: A request for advice on bracing

Chisel off the braces and re-do. Total time will be under 30 minutes...
by Mario Proulx
Sat Oct 20, 2018 11:25 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Have you ever built an experimental batch of guitars with slight differences?
Replies: 11
Views: 11337

Re: Have you ever built an experimental batch of guitars with slight differences?

Clay, that's why i built a year's worth with the different neck system. It was completely random, yet no difference then, or now, could be attributed to the neck attachment system. As for the mandolins with removable backs, they were the perfect test bed, as only one parameter would change on the ot...

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