Don't you hate it when...

dave g · Nov 29, 2011

... stuff like this happens?

The sides are macore, which is really hard & brittle stuff. It just didn't want to go back in the mold...

I'm doing two identical ones at the same time. The other I just clamped down to a flat board to glue the back on and let the sides do whatever they wanted

I'll salvage this one but it might end up being a "second" or perhaps a Christmas present for a family member.

Sure is easy to sand the tops & backs though!

Pete Howlett · Nov 29, 2011

I am surprised at this Dave - I built my very first acoustic instrument from this wonderful wood sometimes known as African Cherry. I found it worked easily, bent well and was not the least bit brittle. I think it's a great colour substitute for mahogany and is a superb tonewood. I have a few sets of fiddleback which I won on ebay 6 years ago.... most of the stuff thaty comes up now has a wide waterfall style figure which is too 'big' for ukulele otherwise I'd be using more of this.

dave g · Nov 29, 2011

Well it *does* bend easily when hot & wet, but cold and dry not so much

It's hell on saw blades too - due to it's high silica content, I read somewhere. Beautiful stuff though.

Rick Turner · Nov 29, 2011

I did a bar, back-bar, reception desk, and elevator interior in custom made, tight flame makore about 25 years ago for Campton Place in San Francisco. One of the trades people on the job was mad about something or other...we came in close to the end of installation, and found major knife slashes in the makore paneling in the elevator. Luckily, I'd ordered one extra sheet...at over $100.00 per 4 x 8 x 1/4"...in 1984 bucks. Can't imagine what that stuff would cost now.

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Nov 29, 2011

It's hard to tell from the pic but it looks like the grain might has some serious run out. That kind of break indicates it.

dave g · Nov 29, 2011

Moore Bettah Ukuleles said:
It's hard to tell from the pic but it looks like the grain might has some serious run out. That kind of break indicates it.

It does indeed! But that makes this particular break a lot easier to fix - there is a good 1/4" over-lap.

Rick Turner · Nov 29, 2011

Well, grain runout pretty much defines flame figured wood. It's nothing but undulating runout.

Timbuck · Nov 29, 2011

My advice is.. burn it! and make another...You'll thank me later

dave g · Nov 29, 2011

Nah - the repair is lookin' good. Don't worry - I burn plenty of stuff that isn't ukulele quality. I heat the shop with that stuff in fact

Rick Turner · Nov 30, 2011

Do ukuleles cry when they burn?

luthier · Nov 30, 2011

Dunno, but guitars don't.

I'd say finish building it then decide to burn it or not.

Liam Ryan · Nov 30, 2011

Rick Turner said:
Do ukuleles cry when they burn?

I don't know? But if a uke's crap enough to need burning I won't shed a tear.

Michael Smith · Nov 30, 2011

Don't you have any drywall screws and a scrap of 2x4? Better to have to kill it now than later.

Mark Roberts Ukuleles · Jan 6, 2012

I'm pretty sure that's why they invented the Sunburst painting pattern. Think about it. It covers up a mess up.

dave g · Jan 6, 2012

The cracked side repair turned out really well - it's really not visible at all unless you know where to look. But somehow or another I managed to make the neck crooked in relation to the body; badly - the bridge would be off center by about half an inch! So I used the thing to practice a french polish finish. Turned out ~OK, but I think I'll stick to lacquer. I may cut the thing in half down the center line and make a conversation piece out of it - haven't decided yet

Ken W · Jan 6, 2012

The repair looked great when I saw it. Sorry to hear that the alignment of the neck will keep this one from being finished. It would have been interesting to see if the repair affected the sound in any way. I'm guessing not. Split down the middle would definately be a conversation starter.

ukeeku · Jan 6, 2012

Rick Turner said:
Do ukuleles cry when they burn?

I know for a fact that they do not cry from the last UWC.

Timbuck · Jan 6, 2012

dave g said:
The cracked side repair turned out really well - it's really not visible at all unless you know where to look. But somehow or another I managed to make the neck crooked in relation to the body; badly - the bridge would be off center by about half an inch! So I used the thing to practice a french polish finish. Turned out ~OK, but I think I'll stick to lacquer. I may cut the thing in half down the center line and make a conversation piece out of it - haven't decided yet

It's strange how "Lemon ukes" progressivly develop more and more problems as you continue the build.. Maybe it's a phycological thing..I told you to burn it at the start

Moore Bettah Ukuleles · Jan 6, 2012

Timbuck said:
It's strange how "Lemon ukes" progressivly develop more and more problems as you continue the build.. Maybe it's a phycological thing..I told you to burn it at the start

That's very true. I have found that most of the time it's obvious they are going to be bastards from the beginning when you still have a chance to cut your losses and start over.

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