AHG octave mando build

[AcornHouse]

By popular demand, the all new octave mandolin build thread! The latest in what’s going on with Nica and company at Acorn House Guitars.

To recap (since this was mentioned in Puck’s build thread), I am building an octave mandolin commission with a carved western red cedar top and a highly figured black walnut back and sides. The cedar top is salvaged old growth timber from Alaska.

 

[AcornHouse]

First step is gluing the top wedges together. Since they are wedges, they can have a tendency to want to fold up under heavy clamping pressure, so using a tip I pulled from a Long Island cello maker, I marked out for some notches to move the clamping pressure inward.



This made the glue up much less stress inducing. Using fish glue again (also less stressful than hot hide glue!)

 

[Westerly Wood]

First step is gluing the top wedges together. Since they are wedges, they can have a tendency to want to fold up under heavy clamping pressure, so using a tip I pulled from a Long Island cello maker, I marked out for some notches to move the clamping pressure inward.



This made the glue up much less stress inducing. Using fish glue again (also less stressful than hot hide glue!)

Does it smell like Cod??

 

[AcornHouse]

After allowing for ample curing time (and other intervening “stuff”, the outline was sawn in the top and carving began. After the bridge location is marked, the work begins forming the arch with that as the apex, working from the outside in.



It smells like I'm sharpening a LOT of pencils!

 

[AcornHouse]

A crude carving cradle is made from various scraps from out in the workshop. This will hold things secure to carve both the topside and the underside. No attempt is made to make it pretty, just functional.

 

[AcornHouse]

And the roughing in of the arch is soon finished, ready to be refined and smoothed.

 

[twocorgis]

After allowing for ample curing time (and other intervening “stuff”, the outline was sawn in the top and carving began. After the bridge location is marked, the work begins forming the arch with that as the apex, working from the outside in.



It smells like I'm sharpening a LOT of pencils!

I love the smell of cedar!

 

[AcornHouse]

After sharpening up a couple of scrapers (straight and gooseneck), the refining began. And a little bonus was revealed. A small line of Bearclaw emerged. Not unknown in cedar, but certainly less common than in spruce. And always a good sign as far as tone goes (at least in my estimation.)



And in close up in case you’re having trouble seeing it.

 

[AcornHouse]

Does it smell like Cod??

No real fishy smell that I can sense.

 

[GGJaguar]

Are the body dimensions your own design or based off an existing instrument?

 

[AcornHouse]

Are the body dimensions your own design or based off an existing instrument?

The body dimensions are taken from Graham McDonald’s Bouzouki Book, but I will be doing f-holes instead of the round hole he uses.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Very cool.

Octave mandos are such neat instruments.

 

[fronobulax]

The body dimensions are taken from Graham McDonald’s Bouzouki Book, but I will be doing f-holes instead of the round hole he uses.

A rabbit hole veer - I didn't think book author Graham McDonald was retired member @Graham but I had to check. They aren't the same person but the forward to the book was written by Andy Irvine. Bassist Andy Irvine is perhaps the most famous player of a Betts Bass (my custom bass is a Betts) so I checked that out. Forward writer Irvine is an Irish singer not an American bassist. Oh well.

Is that the primary carving tool? If you have some spare time could you pose with it as if you were carving something. Thank you.

 

[AcornHouse]

Is that the primary carving tool? If you have some spare time could you pose with it as if you were carving something. Thank you.

For this job, yes. I’ll try to come up with something when I carve the underside.

 

[GGJaguar]

could you pose with it as if you were carving something.

I'm sure The Supervisor would be willing to snap the photo.

 

[MLBob]

What was the approximate thickness of the glued up cedar when you began to shape & shave ?

 

[AcornHouse]

What was the approximate thickness of the glued up cedar when you began to shape & shave ?

21-22mm at the flattened peak, angling down to maybe 7mm at the thin edge of the wedge. I hope to have a 20mm dome when finished.

 

[AcornHouse]

With tool marks smoothed (except for the recurve area. That will get done after the body is glued up.), it's time to use some raking light to evaluate what further refinements are needed. Sometimes easier to do in a static pic of all sides.

 

[chazmo]

Already looking like something, Chris. Wow!

 

[GGJaguar]

I bet the cedar smells nice as you're carving it.