1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Take us through building your guitar step by step. Post pictures and tell us what you're doing.
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ruby@magpage.com
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Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

I admire your dedication. I remember reading the posts a couple of years back and wishing you well. If that is the Stanley/Bailey plane you paid $40 for, it was worth it - a lovely pre WW1 plane that is all you will ever need.

Also - what is an "apron" plane? I have never heard that term.

Ed
Ed M
Diane Kauffmds
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Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

ruby@magpage.com wrote:
Also - what is an "apron" plane? I have never heard that term.

Ed
It's just another term for a small hand plane that's 6" or under. Veritas calls their 5 1/2" low angle plane, an apron plane.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

There are several plans on the internet, for a jig to cut your rosette slot. Here's the one that I use. Its just a circle cutter thats geared toward rosettes. Many luthier supply sites carry rosette cutting jigs. I bought mine.

As you can see, it's 2 pieces of plexiglass that slide back and forth. The jig is held in the center by a 1/4" pin. The width of the circle is adjusted by the bolt with a wingnut. I bought mine, but I had to make a couple of changes to it to make it better. I glued a 1/4" metal washer to the hole in the plastic where the center post resides, to ensure that the plastic won't enlarge over time. Also, I ground down each side of the bolt head, that allows width adjustment, to ensure that it sits entirely in the slot. When i got the jig, it wasn't sitting flat because of the bolt. I still consider it very reasonable in price.

I bought mine from here:

https://www.jsbguitars.com/shop/guitar- ... attachment
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Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
ruby@magpage.com
Posts: 1564
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 8:03 am
Location: Chestertown Maryland

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

I got lucky a few years ago and found a used StewMac rosette jig at an unbeatable price. Then I made a ukulele and the S-M jig wouldn't go small enough so I made one based on it. Then I made a resonator with an 11" rosette and the S-M jig wouldn't go big enough so I made another - just look at Diane's and you will see how easy it is to make.

Ed
Ed M
Diane Kauffmds
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Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

ruby@magpage.com wrote:I got lucky a few years ago and found a used StewMac rosette jig at an unbeatable price. Then I made a ukulele and the S-M jig wouldn't go small enough so I made one based on it. Then I made a resonator with an 11" rosette and the S-M jig wouldn't go big enough so I made another - just look at Diane's and you will see how easy it is to make.

Ed
This can be a problem. I've not checked the size range, but Ed is right. There isn't much to them at all.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Talladam
Posts: 123
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:43 pm

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by Talladam »

yeah, that's pretty much what I plan on doing. I may use thin plywood for mine though, I haven't sourced any cheap plexiglass yet and I'll want to get started quickly. At times there are scraps of 1/4" aluminum at work that I may be able to work with. I have taps ect. that I can use, but I can't weld anything. We'll see. Sometimes I'm tempted to just mount a long bit of masonite to the bottom of my router and drill some centers in it untill I get the right radius by trial and error (kind of has something like what is in Cumpiano/Natelson), but it would also be nice to have something more flexible.

Oh, yeah I did spend $40 on that plane. I've got it working pretty well now as a smoother. I have a newer #5 that I have set up for a coarse cut, so a couple swipes with the 5 and clean up with the 4 and I have a pretty good system. I have a really junky #5 waiting to be turned into a cambered/scrub (ish) plane. I don't really need it for the guitar though so it will wait awhile.
Talladam
Posts: 123
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:43 pm

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by Talladam »

Here's the apron plane. I like it so far, but I have limited experience. Some people complain about the wide mouth, but I've yet to use it where it would matter. It is a nice size and feels super solid and easy to adjust.
apron closeup.jpg
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ColestineGuitar
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Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:30 pm

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by ColestineGuitar »

I'v enjoyed watching your progress so much I felt compelled to de-lurk and add my encouragement. I'm working on #2 now, after a long hiatus, and #1 has become my favorite guitar by far. Like yours, my first build was largely about making jigs and buying tools, not to mention tons of research. I am extremely quiet here on KGF, but I received so much help from these folks! Anyhoo, carry on, man. Keep posting.
Slowest builder on the forum. These things take time. Apparently.
Talladam
Posts: 123
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2015 9:43 pm

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by Talladam »

Thanks! I too am a massive lurker. I've spent a year or so looking at the Sawmill Creek Neanderthal Haven forum and I don't think I've ever posted there. I will keep posting, but they may be spaced apart a bit. I'm not the fastest at this.

I bought a cheap white plastic cutting board that I am going to try to use for the material for my rosette jig. I also got a bunch of cool parts from HD for it. I'm going to try to make a fine adjustment thread on it. I know, I know, too complicated for a first guitar, but I enjoy playing with this stuff. It'll probably be next weekend before I can do any serious work on it though. The funny thing is, I think the next instrument I will build will be a mandolin (I'm actually more of a mando player than a guitarist) so half of these jigs will sit around until I decide to build another guitar.
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: 1st Build-OM from scratch and my workbench

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Talladam wrote:...I know, I know, too complicated for a first guitar, but I enjoy playing with this stuff...
If you enjoy it, go for it. Don't let anyone tell you that something is too complicated or out of the realm of a beginner.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
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