Banjo ukes illustrated

dave g · Jan 25, 2011

OK, I've started four more and this time I'm really going to try to post pictures of all steps of the build process. So without further adieu...

The neck blanks with the "stick" holes bored:

Routing the curves on the heels:

The bottom cut, the jig, and the router base:

The upper cut and the jig:

dave g · Jan 25, 2011

The four ready for the "stick":

And finally with the sticks glued in and pinned:

Mobben · Jan 25, 2011

Love to see how things are build. Thanks

dave g · Jan 25, 2011

And the neck profiles rough cut:

That's enough for today

ADD · Jan 26, 2011

Thanks. Will be interesting to see how mine was made, assuming you haven't changed the process in the past year. Look forward to following this thread to completion of a banjo uke. The color and grain on that bottom neck is so very nice.

SweetWaterBlue · Jan 26, 2011

Interesting stuff Dave. I look forward to the rest.

Jnobianchi · Jan 26, 2011

Cool - I'm going to enjoy watching this unfold!

dave g · Jan 26, 2011

Pegheads thickness sanded:

Neck tapers rough cut:

Neck tapers sanded to shape, peg holes drilled:

One of them picked up a koa veneer on the peghead due to a pithy knot that turned up on the face...

dave g · Feb 1, 2011

Roughing the curve of the neck with a rasp:

Finished up on belt and drum sanders (40 grit, 80, 120):

dave g · Feb 1, 2011

The heel blocks cut from neck off-fall:

Ready to make fret boards, waiting for drums to arrive:

tattwo · Feb 1, 2011

dave g said:
Roughing the curve of the neck with a rasp:

Finished up on belt and drum sanders (40 grit, 80, 120):

I like how you hold the neck down. Im going to try that on my next one

Liam Ryan · Feb 2, 2011

Keep them coming Dave. I'm facinated.

dave g · Feb 9, 2011

The drums arrived!

Necks matched to the drums. The drums are a little out of round and the necks are not dead-nut straight, so it takes a bit of screwing around to match up the correct segment of each drum to a neck...

Drilling the hole for the stick in the rim of the drum:

Measuring how much of the stick has to go to fit:

dave g · Feb 9, 2011

Cutting the steel pins. I make these from that metal frame political yard signs have by the way - free for the taking every November!

The pins and wedges ready to go. The wedges are cut from off-fall from the necks as well (front of the peghead):

Neck/drum attachment complete. The screw in the end is a 1 1/4" drywall screw...

Ready to be disassembled and finished:

tinguitar · Feb 9, 2011

V interesting Dave. Thanks.

Ken W · Feb 9, 2011

Thanks for sharing your build process, Dave. They look great. kww

Tikas · Feb 9, 2011

Hello!
thanks for sharing step-by-step, however was a little unsure as to how the wedges and pins fit was woundering if you had any other picutres, or could explain further?
Thanks
Hat-sam

dave g · Feb 15, 2011

Finishes applied, ready to glue the fret boards on:

And doing just that...

dave g · Feb 15, 2011

Not specific to banjo ukes, but it's as good a time as any to make the shipping crates:

Parts all cut:

Sides tacked together:

Reinforcing the corners:

And all ready to go:

The Curious Kid · Feb 16, 2011

I smell my next project. What type of hand drum do you use?

and thanks for these killer pictures!

Banjo ukes illustrated

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