My Brothers Christmas Present - Cigar Box Nation2024-03-28T08:55:21Zhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/my-brothers-christmas-present?groupUrl=cigarboxukulele&commentId=2592684%3AComment%3A2711184&groupId=2592684%3AGroup%3A131819&feed=yes&xn_auth=noAt this point I felt like I w…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-10-26:2592684:Comment:27159472016-10-26T20:17:18.639ZGeorge Fitzgibbonhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/GeorgeFitzgibbon
<p>At this point I felt like I was getting close. Too bad it was almost the end of January... I got the tuners in, the frets in, and started the tail piece. I had a plan for the tail piece, but it seemed to change in my mind the whole time. I will get pics of that on the next post. Filing the frets was a learning experience. I should have taken the time to watch a few videos before I did this. I chewed up the side of the fret board a bit which was a…</p>
<p>At this point I felt like I was getting close. Too bad it was almost the end of January... I got the tuners in, the frets in, and started the tail piece. I had a plan for the tail piece, but it seemed to change in my mind the whole time. I will get pics of that on the next post. Filing the frets was a learning experience. I should have taken the time to watch a few videos before I did this. I chewed up the side of the fret board a bit which was a bummer.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306590162?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306590162?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306591379?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306591379?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a> </p>
<p>I re-braced the top because I was paranoid about long term longevity I trimmed down the braces, but I did not take as much care as i probably should have and nicked the top in a few spots. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306592045?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306592045?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306593419?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306593419?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p> After my disappointment with…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-10-19:2592684:Comment:27111842016-10-19T16:45:05.828ZGeorge Fitzgibbonhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/GeorgeFitzgibbon
<p>After my disappointment with the glue I chose in the bridge, I wanted to re do it. I just didn't have much of the same wood left. So, I raided the scrap bin at the local wood store for something cool. I chopped up the piece I had already glued and laminated in the scrap piece. I hat to say I am not really sure what it was.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586208?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586208?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
<p>I knew what…</p>
<p>After my disappointment with the glue I chose in the bridge, I wanted to re do it. I just didn't have much of the same wood left. So, I raided the scrap bin at the local wood store for something cool. I chopped up the piece I had already glued and laminated in the scrap piece. I hat to say I am not really sure what it was.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586208?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586208?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>I knew what shape the bridge would be, and figured after all the shaping and sanding it would look pretty cool. For now I left is pretty rough, and a little tall.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306587418?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306587418?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306588708?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306588708?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>I also glued in the nut. Another scrap from the bin at the wood store. I realize now, that I should have waited for this bit. Of course this was after I had gouged things up trying to shape the fret ends... Live and learn.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306589839?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306589839?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p> Now came the real commitment.…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-10-18:2592684:Comment:27107232016-10-18T16:38:58.840ZGeorge Fitzgibbonhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/GeorgeFitzgibbon
<p>Now came the real commitment...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586066?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586066?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
<p>I drilled the head stock for the tuners. Sanded the fret board. Did the final sanding and shaping of the neck. I put abalone dots on the side of the fret board. I really liked the wood on the fret board so I didn't want to put dots on the front. I thought it looked cleaner this way.…</p>
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<p>Now came the real commitment...</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586066?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586066?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>I drilled the head stock for the tuners. Sanded the fret board. Did the final sanding and shaping of the neck. I put abalone dots on the side of the fret board. I really liked the wood on the fret board so I didn't want to put dots on the front. I thought it looked cleaner this way.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306587203?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306587203?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>I put a small cherry piece on the heel, just for looks.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306588386?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306588386?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>All in all this was my biggest learning point in the project for sure. I could have solved all my problems with a decent set of brad point drill bits. The point of the bit would wander no matter how I marked the start. I marked all the points with a punch I had, but they still wandered a bit. Normally I wouldn't care too much, but the dots, and the tuners looked lame if the did not line up. I even had to wallow out a hole in the peg head to get the tuner where I wanted. I then had to glue in the ferrules for the tuner in question. Hopefully it holds. All in all everything was turning out pretty well. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306589309?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306589309?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p> Next I wanted to get the fret…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-10-14:2592684:Comment:27079302016-10-14T17:06:03.102ZGeorge Fitzgibbonhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/GeorgeFitzgibbon
<p>Next I wanted to get the fret board attached to the neck. I had pretty close to the final shape of the neck, so I figured I was safe. I had stolen some measurements from a Uke I already had, but I wanted to go a bit wider with the fret board. Not much, just 1/8".</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306583587?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306583587?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
<p>The glue down of the fret board went well. I was concerned about shifting…</p>
<p>Next I wanted to get the fret board attached to the neck. I had pretty close to the final shape of the neck, so I figured I was safe. I had stolen some measurements from a Uke I already had, but I wanted to go a bit wider with the fret board. Not much, just 1/8".</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306583587?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306583587?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>The glue down of the fret board went well. I was concerned about shifting around with the glue, but it seemed to go on straight. I had read all kinds of tips for keeping it from shifting, but I just went for it.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306584593?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306584593?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>I got mu tuners in during this time. I realized that the tuner shafts were a bit longer than I had expected, so I glued some scales to the side of the peg head. It looks really nice any way, and made the peg head exactly the right width for the tuners. I think that most "fancy" wood work was invented to hide one mistake or other. </p> Missed the order of things...tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-10-14:2592684:Comment:27077502016-10-14T17:04:05.203ZGeorge Fitzgibbonhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/GeorgeFitzgibbon
<p>Missed the order of things...</p>
<p>Missed the order of things...</p> After I rough sanded the neck…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-10-13:2592684:Comment:27071812016-10-13T15:24:34.379ZGeorge Fitzgibbonhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/GeorgeFitzgibbon
<p>After I rough sanded the neck, I worked on getting the fret board ready.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306585209?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306585209?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721"></img></a></p>
<p>It is a piece of Brazilian Cherry wood floor that I had left from a project. It was probably the home of some endangered species, or shelter for some indigenous tribe before it was floor in my old house. I had already bought it, so the guilt didn't weigh too much on me for this…</p>
<p>After I rough sanded the neck, I worked on getting the fret board ready.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306585209?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306585209?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
<p>It is a piece of Brazilian Cherry wood floor that I had left from a project. It was probably the home of some endangered species, or shelter for some indigenous tribe before it was floor in my old house. I had already bought it, so the guilt didn't weigh too much on me for this project. Plus, it looks really nice! I used the fret calculator on StewMac.com for the distances. I played with scale length to get the bridge in a place I thought would make the best use of the sound board and look nice with the size of things. I think it was 14.5 in the end. I need to measure to remember.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586401?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306586401?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a></p>
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<p>I also thicknessed the piece I was going to use for the sound board. I used my belt sander again. Not ideal, but if I was careful it wouldn't get sucked out of my hand and into the machinery. I added a small brace that I ended up redoing. I was paranoid that it would not hold the tension that I wanted. The top was 2mm when I was done. If you are curious, the 'wood' on the back of these boxes is 3 ply. I sanded through one ply to get to the thickness that I needed. I also did the first lamination for the bridge. Again, I regret the choice of glue... but I sort of fixed it at the end.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306587596?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306587596?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306588750?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306588750?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="721" class="align-full"></a> </p>
<p>I cut the sound hole with a hobby knife. Also worked OK. I have a hole cutter now that might do a better job. The plywood does not like to cut, so I needed to sand out some of the imperfections. About this time was when Christmas actually came. I had to show my brother some pictures and promise to get it to him shortly.</p>
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