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Back with Pauls Baritone.. the headstock just has to have a spalted beech cap..
so a 2mm veneer is cut off a chunk earmarked for a future project..
It is cut roughly to size to allow room for the clamps etc
the side nearest the nut is carfully shaped to fit against the end of the fingerboard
and everything is then clamped in place.... obviously with a thin layer of glue to help the mating process along..
the template for Erik's 8-string touch guitar is fine tuned with files etc.. it has to be exactly perfect
after removing the clamps (this was multi-laminated yesterday..) the template is used to mark out a rough outline
and a rough chunk is cut out..
just small enough to fit over the top of the planer to get this lovely finish.. apart from certain (soon to be specified issues) I think that padouk is now one of my favourite timbers!
while the planer is being used the re-glued neck blank for Tim's RF is planed flat..
a perfect outline is now marked in pen on the padouk blank
and the instrument is cut out as close to the line as possible.. now, this is one of the biggest instruments I've ever built and as such is a bit unweildy..
an the second biggest issue I have with padouk is that it is a very waxy timber, the wax accumulates between the teeth of the bandaw blade and a) heats up and causes sparks and b) blunts the cutting edge... the problem is that the build-up has to be cleaned off every couple of minutes.. and when the blade is nearly two meters long that takes a while!!!
anyway, the router comes out, and the bearing cutter is run around the template.. and here is the main issue with padouk... it's bloody poisonous!!!! the dust and smoke hangs in the air for ages and is not very pleasant at all.. and if you get a splinter in your hand get it out very quickly!!!
the template is removed and a larger bearing cutter is used to remove the rest of the waste.. and this brings the weight of the blank down to just 10 lbs... considering it's still twice as thick as it will be in the end I think I'll end up with a very very light, very very big, instrument!!
at this point my box of organic veg (the gardens not very productive right now..) arrives, and the driver instroduces his travelling companion.. Bud and Jasper love him...
a little too much!!! .. just look at my boys tongues!!! dirty bastards (obviously I pulled Bud off as soon as the pic had been taken!)
just to give you some idea of the scale of things..
the edge of the headstock veneer needs cleaning up
and then the holes reamed open..
I've decided to have some fun with this inlay.. since the main material is a spalt I thought I'd use two materials in the logo..
padouk and ebony.. (what do you think Paul?)
the cavity is cut
and the inlay glued in place and left..
I have to sharpen my plane yet again!!! a razors edge doesn't keep for long
anyway, the rosewood multi-laminate neck is planed to perfection
the maple veneers are prepared
and she is glued up and set aside..
the inlays is cut flush to the headstock with a sharp chisel
and dampened off to show what she'll look like in the end..
Till the morrow,
Ben
Crimson Guitars HQ
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