AHG (and sometimes U)

[GGJaguar]

Nicely tapered braces!

 

[Stuball48]

All shaped.

Those curly shavings impress me. Got a sharp cutter.

 

[AcornHouse]

I was going through the scrap pile looking for old soundboard cutoffs to use as the center reinforcement and found bits from a bearclaw spruce top from a parlor I built a number of years ago.



I still need to thin it down, but at its current thickness it shows an interesting perspective on the bearclaw as it moves down the grain. It really is 3-dimensional.

 

[AcornHouse]

After thinning, contouring, and fitting the reinforcement strips, they get glued in.

 

[GGJaguar]

It shall be a sturdy uke.

 

[AcornHouse]

Testing the fit of the back. Unlike the top, the back gets a slight bow horizontally and an arc vertically as the sides get a little narrower towards the head block. Making sure the reinforcement strips isn't under one of the blocks and the braces fit deep enough (but not too deep!) in their pockets.

Then there's labels to make and glue and inscriptions to inscribe for posterity.

 

[GGJaguar]

Looks like the top has some deep pores to fill.

 

[AcornHouse]

Looks like the top has some deep pores to fill.

Koa gonna koa.

 

[AcornHouse]

If I'm going to make more soprano ukes, I'll need to design a smaller label. This wasn't an issue in my concert uke.

 

[GGJaguar]

I'll need to design a smaller label

Or just continue to use the large label to confuse future researchers as to why the corners are cut off. It will become known as the Acorn House cut off label. It will be almost as famous as the clipped Fender Broadcaster "Nocaster" decal.

 

[AcornHouse]

Or just continue to use the large label to confuse future researchers as to why the corners are cut off. It will become known as the Acorn House cut off label. It will be almost as famous as the clipped Fender Broadcaster "Nocaster" decal.

I actually went back and redid it. Not with a smaller label, but with the cuts more closely matching the contour of the kerfing. It was bugging me.

 

[AcornHouse]

 

[Default]

Nice!!!! That's gorgeous.

 

[AcornHouse]

Box is now closed.

 

[Stuball48]

Chris has to be the most organized builder in the building trade - what a use of space - just look at his clamps. I think he oversees "Submarine Building."

 

[Westerly Wood]

I just wonder how long it takes him to apply all those clamps to that top?

 

[AcornHouse]

I just wonder how long it takes him to apply all those clamps to that top?

As quick as possible. Have them handy, know your clamping strategy, make sure things fit well together beforehand.
Notice the advantages to the luthier's cam clamps in tight spaces. Just throw the lever rather than trying to find room to turn a handle.

 

[AcornHouse]

I managed to get the back overhang cleaned up last night, but there will be a brief(?) hiatus before I can smooth the sides for binding channels.
Got my COVID booster yesterday and the side effects arrived overnight like a freight train. Had them hit me once before, but I think this is worse.

So, here's a quick shot with the body together but like Prometheus. (Shelley, not Aeschylus.)

 

[Stuball48]

Looking great Chris and hope COVID booster shot turns you lose sooner not later.

 

[AcornHouse]

Fever was gone this morning, but the whole body felt like I had overdone a workout. (Probably from shivering all day with fever.)
But I managed to get the end graft in and sand and shellac the sides.



Suitable for rubbing.