Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clarky on November 27, 2014 at 12:59am

Hi, yeah it's a British thing, but then it makes finding a box even more exciting, or using the imagination a bit more.  Wine boxes are easier to get.  I find oil cans hard to come by too.  I bought a job lot of cigar boxes from http://www.cgarsltd.co.uk/ but they sell individual ones too for up to a fiver (plus postage).  I also find good hardwood difficult to come by, so I buy from ebay and scavenge where I can.  Sawmills seem to want to charge a bomb when I only want some scrap wood.

Permalink Reply by Hubcap John on November 27, 2014 at 1:12am

Well I've been building for a few years now but don't turn out loads just a few ;) and I always find that if you ask about you can always pick up plenty of scrap hard wood for necks. Also I build my own cigar boxes and then stick diy paper decals on them. Were there is a will there's a way

Permalink Reply by BUGGY (C) on November 27, 2014 at 1:29am

I think any free wood will do
But you sometimes have to think outside the box

A rectangle of wood and plywood front and back
May be the way around this.

I have used Toilet seats, plant pots,boxes,vase
Dexian shelf, pretty much anything you can find.

But finding cigar boxes is a rarety
But did find some a couple of times in junk shops once cheap

Think free old junkfurniture,bed heads
Anything made of wood and recycle it

You'd be amazed what's in a skip near you
Try free cycle too

One chap found some cherry doors
In a skip in the ritch areas..

Good luck..

Permalink Reply by Ian MC Donald on November 27, 2014 at 1:33am

Hi Jock
I carry quite a lot of hardwood blanks in stock
I also machine them to your required thicknesses
And can also supply fingerboard blanks as well
I can also do a scarf jointed neck ready for you
To glue up.
I can supply mahogany, walnut, maple , oak , wenge
Please let me know what you require
Cheers
Ian

Permalink Reply by Alan Budgen on November 27, 2014 at 1:58am

Hi Jock,

You always read our American friends saying 'just head to your local lumber yard and get some hardwood...' doesn't seem to work like that here.

I've been scouting round different places, and our local picture framers said they are happy to sell me wood at cost price, they'll even slice down the mouldings to the right size. They normally come in 3 metre lengths, I think. They have many hardwoods including maple. So you'd get 2/3 necks from one piece. Find a good quality framer nearby and make friends. 

I've also been given a contact up here in London, but I need to check them out. I'll let you know how I get on. 

I see you're in Bournemouth, we usually visit Bocombe in the summer, and there is a new shop there selling salvaged Oak furniture. He told me there is a supplier down that way (Ringwood perhaps?) who might be able to help. I'll see if I have the number.

Otherwise, look for old broken furniture to cut up, or find a good skip!

Best wishes,

Alan 

Permalink Reply by Jock MacHinery on November 27, 2014 at 10:01am

Thanks to all who replied. You have all given me some great ideas. I have a 3 string and a dulcimer to finish and then I'll be taking it easy over Christmas.

Come the New Year it will be looking for wood in earnest!

thanks again

Jock

Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on November 28, 2014 at 1:12am

Thin sheet can be found in good model shops in 3" and 4" widths 3' long and in various thickness's.This one is built with model shop timber

Permalink Reply by Alan Budgen on November 28, 2014 at 1:21am

That's really impressive Michael. I've got some spruce and walnut from my local model supplier, but I wasn't sure what the finish would be like. 

Alan

Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on November 28, 2014 at 1:27am

There are four pieces in that front,the stuff comes with a good finish so if your careful glueing them up it takes a minimal amount of effort to clean up the joints with a cabinet scraper

Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on November 28, 2014 at 1:21am

As for necks, someone on here directed me to Feuillus fencing,The guitars on the left use their oak seat laths the one on the right sapele from them 

Permalink Reply by David Bowes on November 28, 2014 at 12:58pm

Michael

Very nice, whet is the nut made from?

David

Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on November 29, 2014 at 1:58am

The nuts are corian,you can buy a block from David Dyke for just over a fiver that will make loads of nuts and saddles

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