No.1 & No.2

[kjermstad]

Well based upon the advice I received in the introduction chat I ended up with two dreadnought kits from John Hall. I love dreads and will probably have a hard time building something different. One is a '37 D-28, the other is a figured maple D-18 with bloodwood trim! I have watched all John's videos repeatedly, and when I had a question, he was extremely responsive and helpful on the phone. Very rare to have this level of support these days!

I started by bracing the soundboards and backs of both kits so that they wouldn't have any opportunity to warp with the difference in climate from John's shop to my house in California and the upcoming season change. I then proceeded with the D-28 kit and have closed the box. I have the Fleishman binding machine and bit set but am waiting for a flush cut router bit to trim the sides. I have a mostly full bag of blonde shellac flakes leftover from my 5e3 tweed amp build a few years back, but having since realized that denatured alcohol is illegal in California. Looks like I will be heading to Nevada for a bunch of Everclear soon! I plan to seal coat with a 1# cut prior to binding.

I had intended on completing one kit prior to starting the other, but while I wait for tools in the mail, I grow impatient, and the D-18 kit begins catching up to the D-28. I guess I will learn well from making all my mistakes twice! I will be closing the box on the D-18 this weekend after making a bridge clamping caul.

For fun I attached my only previous instrument kit builds, a Stewmac semi-hollow body kit (only thing used from the kit was body and neck), and a TubeDepot 5e3 tweed amp kit.

[kjermstad]

More pictures. Ps. I have a 12'x20' shed that I plan to reorganize into a space to build in, but its not ready so I am proceeding in the house. God bless my wonderful wife for not murdering me :D

[carld05]

Kevin,
Not sure about in your area, but we have a "Garden" supply store up here in Chico (Greenfire) that has both denatured and ethyl alcohol in gallons.
Carl

[kjermstad]

Thanks for the tip, I’ll check out some local agg stores! Bracing carving is a little better on #2 as I learned how to hold the chisel in the correct direction during #1. Back is on #2, the top will go on tomorrow morning.

[kjermstad]

Both boxes closed and flush cut. Been working out of town so progress slowed a little. Not a bad thing, gives me time to think things through.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

You're moving right along on these builds.
Looking good!

Kevin