Search found 86 matches

by Joel Nowland
Mon Nov 04, 2013 11:55 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Trimming the soundboard and the back without a router
Replies: 25
Views: 21794

Re: Trimming the soundboard and the back without a router

Doug I could not find it but there is a video of a Mexican builder in Paracho who uses a Mexican luthiers knife called a (Cuchillo Knife) used for a large portion of the building process. I was amazed at how quickly he moved through the process with this knife including trimming the top and back. It...
by Joel Nowland
Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:14 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Wake me up, please. What are you working on?
Replies: 49
Views: 31086

Re: Wake me up, please. What are you working on?

Truss Rods I decided ( should have done this years ago) to start making my own truss rods due to the fact that I have had two break in the past ten years which is two way way way tooooo many. Another builder friend of mine had one break in a guitar last spring. The small welded on threaded blocks br...
by Joel Nowland
Sun Oct 13, 2013 2:35 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Bridge design question
Replies: 13
Views: 8541

Re: Bridge design question

Alan I don't know why I wrote Mario's name. I was commenting on Barry Daniels post where he wrote, " a tilted saddle makes sense, but bridge pins don't really gain from this approach." I am in the middle of a batch of four guitars and at the same time machining a batch of 36 truss rods and...
by Joel Nowland
Sat Oct 12, 2013 9:55 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Bridge design question
Replies: 13
Views: 8541

Re: Bridge design question

Mario I respectfully disagree with the idea that the forces are all concentrated at the ball end. It depends on how your bridge is designed. Using unslotted pins is important and if your bridge holes and string slots are made in such a way that the strings are making firm contact with the bridge pin...
by Joel Nowland
Thu Oct 03, 2013 12:26 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Help us create an FAQ for glues!
Replies: 23
Views: 65930

Re: Help us create an FAQ for glues!

With regards to using Titebond 3 for guitar building. I used it on several guitars about 5 years ago and the top joint showed movement in only a few weeks which caused an obvious line in the finish right down the joint. The joint did not open up but it looks bad. I have built around 125 guitars befo...
by Joel Nowland
Thu Oct 03, 2013 11:31 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Bridge design question
Replies: 13
Views: 8541

Re: Bridge design question

I think the bridge pin hole being tilted can give better rap around contact between guitar string and bridge and perhaps better energy transfer. The more concentration on elements that produce more energy transfer form the strings, to bridge,to guitar top the better. If small details actually help o...
by Joel Nowland
Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:19 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Sources for cases
Replies: 8
Views: 7557

Re: Sources for cases

Nate

Of all the low and high priced cases I have tried and I have tried a lot, Access Bags And Cases are the best regardless of price. They are reasonably priced though.

Joel
by Joel Nowland
Tue Jul 23, 2013 10:50 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: thoughts on a contractor saw
Replies: 22
Views: 16757

Re: thoughts on a contractor saw

I have owned/used everything from small Craftsman saws to Olivers. I owned a Ryobi BT3000 when they first came out and it was fine for small light work such as guitar building but if you ever want to cut plywood, MDF or large heavy planks it won't work very well. The sliding miter is nice but will c...
by Joel Nowland
Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:39 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: fretboard/bridge woods
Replies: 25
Views: 22628

Re: fretboard/bridge woods

Ryan

Over the years I have settled on four favorites. ZIricote , Bocote, figured Katalok and Brazilian rosewood, in that order. I have a good stock of ebony but I rarely use it anymore. It's just not as interesting and it's getting soooo hard to find quartered good quality ebony.

Joel
by Joel Nowland
Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:28 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Methods of thicknessing soundboard and online tutorials
Replies: 40
Views: 24910

Re: Methods of thicknessing soundboard and online tutorials

Paul Gaining skills with hand planes and hand tools is a good way to go and I highly recommend it. There is another option. You can find a cabinet shop with a wide belt sander (most have them) and pay them to sand your top, back & sides, fingerboard and head plate to just a bit over final assemb...
by Joel Nowland
Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:58 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: evo "gold" wire advice
Replies: 18
Views: 10605

Re: evo "gold" wire advice

Robert I love the EVO as well and use it as standard. You will love it and have no problems. Something that may help is that hammering the frets in (in my opinion) is not the way to go. I use a radius block to hammer them in. I buy the Stew Mac 8" wood radius blocks just for fretting and cut th...
by Joel Nowland
Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:00 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Full height purfling?
Replies: 5
Views: 4219

Re: Full height purfling?

I cut a single channel with full height purflings on about 150 guitars or so and it was fine especially since I do all wood bindings & purflings. But since I started using a double cut I won't go back because it cuts so much less into the edge of the guitar and I get twice as much out of my purf...
by Joel Nowland
Mon Jun 17, 2013 8:13 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Top wood supplier, graded by stiffness
Replies: 2
Views: 3457

Re: Top wood supplier, graded by stiffness

Craig

I believe Northern Tone woods is one that grades their tops that way.

http://hvgb.net/~tonewood/servicepage.htm

Joel
by Joel Nowland
Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:18 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Threaded Bushing Torque Setting
Replies: 9
Views: 7728

Re: Threaded Bushing Torque Setting

Roger & Barry I have built nearly 200 guitars now and have got along fine but I have always wondered if there is a way to know that I am getting them just the right tightness every time. These torque screwdrivers like the one I have are extremely sensitive and range from 5 to 35 inch pounds some...
by Joel Nowland
Mon Jun 17, 2013 1:30 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Threaded Bushing Torque Setting
Replies: 9
Views: 7728

Re: Threaded Bushing Torque Setting

Rodger

I imagined the same that there would be no answer.

This morning I received an e-mail from one of the best know custom guitar builders in the US who said to start at 10 inch pounds and work up a bit from there.

Joel
by Joel Nowland
Sat Jun 15, 2013 10:33 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Threaded Bushing Torque Setting
Replies: 9
Views: 7728

Threaded Bushing Torque Setting

Has anyone discovered an ideal torque setting for tightening threaded tuning machine bushings so they are tight enough but not so tight as to damage/crack the finish?

I have acquired a precision torque screwdriver and would like to employ it.

Joel
by Joel Nowland
Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:32 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Achieving a flat (Non-glossy) finish
Replies: 12
Views: 10370

Re: Achieving a flat (Non-glossy) finish

Robert

I have never thought of copper wool or aluminum. I will have to try them.

Joel
by Joel Nowland
Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:28 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Wet or dry final sanding
Replies: 6
Views: 7265

Re: Wet or dry final sanding

Mario

The 1200 grit I talked of is the 3M 260L Free Cut Film 5" discs which I believe are micron grade grit. As you said 800 is the finest you can get in 216U gold. I have contacted 3M several times to ask if they would consider making the 216U in a 1200 grit but no go so far.

Joel
by Joel Nowland
Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:09 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Achieving a flat (Non-glossy) finish
Replies: 12
Views: 10370

Re: Achieving a flat (Non-glossy) finish

Robert For what I call a silky finish I go through my usual finishing process using the same lacquer I normally use but at the last stage rather than buffing to a gloss I use 0000 stainless steel wool and a product called Wool wax. It's not a wax but a type of soap in a thick gel used by antique res...
by Joel Nowland
Mon Nov 05, 2012 10:52 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Wet or dry final sanding
Replies: 6
Views: 7265

Re: Wet or dry final sanding

I switched to all dry sanding long ago about 12 to 15 years ago I think. I have done 175 or so guitars now with no wet sanding at all. When I discovered 3M 216U gold and 3M 260L I said good by and good riddance to wet sanding. From the first guitar I found I got equal results with half the time and ...

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