Blogging Fatso!

[David L]

Thanks Kevin, no new pictures. Purfling due to arrive Friday. If everything works out I hope to have this thing bound, or would that be binded, how about trimmed, this weekend and then I'll post some pics.

David L

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Sounds good David,
we are all anxious to see her.

Kevin

[David L]

I'm anxious to git er dun, been taking a long time on this first one as I have been buying the proper tools as I go along. I just don't want to do this haphazardly with whatever tools I have laying around that may not be specific to this hobby. I like to take as much risk out of the process as I can to "reduce" the chances of mistakes. The good thing about getting the tools as I go, I'll already have them for the next one, so it should go faster and cost less (sounds like an advertisement "new and improved, goes faster and cost less"). I know that this is not a race it's just that I'm getting tired of of the same old guitar day after day, I want to be able to wrap this thing up and move on to the next one. People (kith and kin) ask me constantly "how's that guitar coming along?" and I want to woop this sucker out and say "here, I'll show you" BLING, (bling is not some fancy doodads festooned upon the guitar but rather the sound it makes when I rake my fingers across the strings in a strumming fasion, OK, so maybe if it goes bling when strummed, perhaps I did something wrong during the building process but I couldn't think of a better word to describe it). Anyway, you get the picture. What is the next one going to be? Well I thought you'd never ask, I am going to do a OO-14 fret, haven't decided on "all" the details yet but the body will be lightish in color with darkish trim, I've already started getting some of the stuff (technical term) together, mold, templates, wood, and other various knick-knacks but I would like to get a little bit closer to finishing #1 before I officially start #2.

David L

[David L]

Routed the binding/purfling channels on the back this afternoon, I'm really pleased with the outcome, it went pretty smoothly especially since this is my first try at it. I just followed the instructions from the KMG manual and took my time and it looks pretty good as far as I can tell. The real acid test will be when I install the bindings. Up next, cut out the access for the neck and do the preliminary fit check. Again, my camera doesn't do close-ups that well, so this is the best I could do.

David L

[David L]

Thanks Tony, not as intimidating as I anticipated with all the hype and such I hear. It's really about prep and set-up. Not trying to rush it is also another key factor, John's voice in my head, "take your time", probably the most valuble piece of advice, for me, I'm not really what you'd call a take your time kind of guy!

David L

[johnnparchem]

David, the ledges look clean. It looks like you're ready to glue the bindings and purfling in. An 00-14 for your next guitar sounds good. I like it as it is the closest size to a classical. But remember you will probably spend about the same amount of time finishing your first as it took to make. Maybe a little quicker but it will not seem that way.

John

[David L]

Thanks John, I have been paying attention to everybody's posts on the finishing aspect of the building process and I realize that there is more waiting than doing, but that's alright, I'll get started on #2 while I'm waiting for the various cure times on Fatty.

David L

[David L]

I'm about to be ready to glue the bindings. I am using fiber bindings and I want to know which glue I should use. I would think Titebond since the bindings are a wood product but I can't be sure. Can anyone who has used fiber bindings throw me .02 cents? Thanks!

David L

[johnnparchem]

I use LMI glue or titebond. After the glue cures If you have small gaps (I always do) you can close them with a heat gun, a bit of pressure and more tape. If you use CA you need to fill the gaps.

[David L]

Set the neck today, not exactly perfect but I got all three dimension almost dead on. The area that I'm not too thrilled about is where the cheeks meet the body, I've got a little bit of gappage down towards the bottom of the heel, It's nice and tight up at the top, I'm not even going to try and tweak it out 'cause I'm afraid of changing some of the other dimensions as a side effect. So it doesn't look as if the neck is growing out of the body, I'm OK with it and it's not really too bad. I have to put a check on my expectations, especially for my first try. In picture #2 it looks as it the neck is set down below the top but it is actually proud of the top by about .003", I hate it when pictures lie.

David L