Project Ukulele
Moderator: Moderators
Re: Project Ukulele
Project Uke back in the 'latest posts' Yay!!!...... Oh, Its just a bump! booo!
Here is another bump
Zen? any news. Hoping it is just a weather thing! We're all on tender hooks, waiting for the next instalment!!
Here is another bump
Zen? any news. Hoping it is just a weather thing! We're all on tender hooks, waiting for the next instalment!!
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- Moroccomoose
Regular - Posts: 473 Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:00 am Location: Leicester
Re: Project Ukulele
Tenterhooks...
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- lukeandrewhill
Regular - Posts: 203 Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:00 am
please make it all simple.
Re: Project Ukulele
Last I heard (in another thread) Zen was still trying to be zen like in his emotional response to a second piece of pheasant wood not behaving itself. And it's still too cold for the workshop. Soon guys, soon....
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- Frisonic
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2951 Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:00 am Location: Refugee currently in transition.
Still strictly project but lately on the run.
Re: Project Ukulele
Yep... I've been sulking
The uke that suffered from a split back twice before has, you've guessed it, split again!!! So after all that work trying to save a beautiful piece of wood, the underlying problem is that the it was too beautiful for it's own good.
I was in the room with it a couple of times when it split. Quite scary how loud the crack was!! So, the decision has been made to get a replacement back. It has to be pheasant wood to match the sides, and I have to get a full set of bindings and purfling strips for the back stripe, braces, back re-inforcement strip.
So, a big job ahead. And as I have to get materials from a couple of suppliers in the USA, I'm looking at getting a full set of woods for a Baritone Uke at the same time. Yep, glutton for punishment
That still leaves the well behaved uke to finish. So in the next week or so I'll make a start on final polishing, then fit the tuners, mark out the saddle slot, rout it, and fit the saddle. And then that one will be finished at long last.
And thanks everyone. I really haven't minded the problems, if anything they make the project more interesting and you always learn more from solving them than when things go smoothly. But things would have gone a lot smoother and quicker had I had a proper workshop and that has been a frustration and, frankly, a little depressing too.
Andy
The uke that suffered from a split back twice before has, you've guessed it, split again!!! So after all that work trying to save a beautiful piece of wood, the underlying problem is that the it was too beautiful for it's own good.
I was in the room with it a couple of times when it split. Quite scary how loud the crack was!! So, the decision has been made to get a replacement back. It has to be pheasant wood to match the sides, and I have to get a full set of bindings and purfling strips for the back stripe, braces, back re-inforcement strip.
So, a big job ahead. And as I have to get materials from a couple of suppliers in the USA, I'm looking at getting a full set of woods for a Baritone Uke at the same time. Yep, glutton for punishment
That still leaves the well behaved uke to finish. So in the next week or so I'll make a start on final polishing, then fit the tuners, mark out the saddle slot, rout it, and fit the saddle. And then that one will be finished at long last.
And thanks everyone. I really haven't minded the problems, if anything they make the project more interesting and you always learn more from solving them than when things go smoothly. But things would have gone a lot smoother and quicker had I had a proper workshop and that has been a frustration and, frankly, a little depressing too.
Andy
Is it about a bicycle?
Re: Project Ukulele
Hi Zen, you there? Everything alright? Another two months have passed, and no Uke-news. I'm starting to think you might have lost interest in finishing those two gorgeous Ukes! Please don't give up! You're doing a wonderful work!
And I love following this thread!
And I love following this thread!
Re: Project Ukulele
Thanks yelemusic.
I got caught up finishing some other projects to clear the bench. But that's almost finished now. Just got to finish servicing a mixer for my brother. But I did receive the Uke strings last week so I should be making a start next week.
Andy
I got caught up finishing some other projects to clear the bench. But that's almost finished now. Just got to finish servicing a mixer for my brother. But I did receive the Uke strings last week so I should be making a start next week.
Andy
Is it about a bicycle?
Re: Project Ukulele
I saw that too. Very inspiring (and it made me too think of Andy's fledgling ukes there in Devon, just waiting to get out there and be heard)!
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- Frisonic
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2951 Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:00 am Location: Refugee currently in transition.
Still strictly project but lately on the run.
Re: Project Ukulele
And, at last, finally got started today.
Nothing of any photographic interest. But with the bench cleared I could start on some general tidying up in readiness for flat sanding.
The fret ends were a little rough to the touch, possibly due to some very slight shrinkage of the fretboard. So I carefully stoned them flush and reshaped the fret ends with a triangular file.
Next job was to make a start cleaning up the bridge. In wiping on the shellac with a pad there is a build up of shellac on the sides and edges of the bridge. So rather than risk marking the polished front it was better to carefully clean things up first.
It's mostly done now. But I'll go over it again with finer grades tomorrow to be sure.
Then it's out with the 2000 grit wet & dry and olive oil.
Andy
Nothing of any photographic interest. But with the bench cleared I could start on some general tidying up in readiness for flat sanding.
The fret ends were a little rough to the touch, possibly due to some very slight shrinkage of the fretboard. So I carefully stoned them flush and reshaped the fret ends with a triangular file.
Next job was to make a start cleaning up the bridge. In wiping on the shellac with a pad there is a build up of shellac on the sides and edges of the bridge. So rather than risk marking the polished front it was better to carefully clean things up first.
It's mostly done now. But I'll go over it again with finer grades tomorrow to be sure.
Then it's out with the 2000 grit wet & dry and olive oil.
Andy
Is it about a bicycle?
Re: Project Ukulele
Oh, just for the record, I've hidden Ruth's Uke in my hardcase. Out of sight, out of mind. But I am already working on the long term solution.
A new back will be ordered, together with the purflings for the back stripe, braces, back strip, bindings and purflings, and the new back will be jointed, thicknessed, braced, and fitted.
But the old back will be framed, complete with back-lit LED lighting to highlight the cracks, and labelled as the Pheasant Wood Ukulele Back of Doom.
Andy
A new back will be ordered, together with the purflings for the back stripe, braces, back strip, bindings and purflings, and the new back will be jointed, thicknessed, braced, and fitted.
But the old back will be framed, complete with back-lit LED lighting to highlight the cracks, and labelled as the Pheasant Wood Ukulele Back of Doom.
Andy
Is it about a bicycle?
Re: Project Ukulele
zenguitar wrote: the old back will be framed, complete with back-lit LED lighting to highlight the cracks, and labelled as the Pheasant Wood Ukulele Back of Doom.
Andy
Have the Arts Lottery Fund been informed yet? Sounds like one for the Tate... Perfect for the one in St Ives, don't you think?
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- Frisonic
Frequent Poster - Posts: 2951 Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 12:00 am Location: Refugee currently in transition.
Still strictly project but lately on the run.
Re: Project Ukulele
Flatted the finish on the back and neck this afternoon. Went very smoothly too. Used 2000 grit wet & dry lubricated with olive oil. You can see the saucer of olive oil in the background. Then cleaned up with white spirit and paper towels.
Now I know what to expect the sides and front shouldn't take too long either. Then I'll make a start on polishing with the rottenstone.
Andy
Is it about a bicycle?
Re: Project Ukulele
Yes!! Front and sides finished too.
All flatty smoothy and Mmmmmm...
In an ideal world I would be making a Rottenstone concoction tomorrow. But it's the village carnival this weekend and I have belatedly discovered that I need to provide a costume. So tomorrow I will be... panicking.
But, hey!. you got a picture to look at. What more do you want?
Andy
Is it about a bicycle?
Re: Project Ukulele
Sod the Uke, we need costume pics with you wearing it.
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- Madman_Greg
Frequent Poster - Posts: 534 Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 12:00 am Location: The back of beyond
Madman_Greg