Before I glue on the top and bottom?

Steve-atl · Dec 16, 2018

I am assembling a StewMac Baritone Ukulele kit. I am getting close to gluing on the top and bottom. Looking at the braces they are big and bulky and certainly do not taper to paper thin at the ends. Should I spend time thinning these out a little?

Anything else I should do before gluing the top and bottom on.

Thanks

Beau Hannam Ukuleles · Dec 16, 2018

What am i looking at?
back, top?

Steve-atl · Dec 16, 2018

Beau Hannam Ukuleles said:
What am i looking at?
back, top?

That's the back but all the braces look like there just roughly shaped.

saltytri · Dec 16, 2018

This just happens to be on my bench right now. There is certainly more than one good way to do it but it'll give you an idea of the general approach that many builders follow.

Steve-atl · Dec 16, 2018

saltytri said:
This just happens to be on my bench right now. There is certainly more than one good way to do it but it'll give you an idea of the general approach that many builders follow.

Man, that is beautiful. How do you not have any glue squeeze out anywhere

PereBourik · Dec 16, 2018

Steve-atl said:
Man, that is beautiful. How do you not have any glue squeeze out anywhere

Because he's the MASTER.

Seriously, check out Beau's website.

saltytri · Dec 16, 2018

Steve-atl said:
Man, that is beautiful. How do you not have any glue squeeze out anywhere

Over time, you learn how much of a film to spread in a given situation so there are maybe some tiny bits of glue that squeeze out. Then wait long enough before scraping the little beads so that they pop right out rather than smearing. For this, I use a popsicle stick that has a chisel blade cut across the stick at an angle. Eventually, your screwup to success ratio will improve.

saltytri · Dec 16, 2018

PereBourik said:
Because he's the MASTER.

Seriously, check out Beau's website.

Yes indeed, Beau is a master!

Steve-atl · Dec 16, 2018

saltytri said:
Over time, you learn how much of a film to spread in a given situation so there are maybe some tiny bits of glue that squeeze out. Then wait long enough before scraping the little beads so the they pop right out rather than smearing. For this, I use a popsicle stick that has a chisel blade cut across the stick at an angle. Eventually, your screwup to success ratio will improve.

That is very impressive

sequoia · Dec 16, 2018

Steve-atl said:
Anything else I should do before gluing the top and bottom on.

Thanks

I don't spend that much time scalloping the back braces. I just sand them to make them look pretty. These braces are mainly for structural purposes and do not contribute much to the sound in my opinion. Then there is always some adjustment so that the ends of the braces don't interfere with the linings. One has to decide if you are going to attach the ends of the back braces through the linings and to the side. I don't do that anymore, but just stop them short of the linings. Your choice.

The top braces however are a different kettle of fish as they do contribute to the sound of the instrument. I scallop them and shave them down to what seems to be the minimum needed to be structurally strong, but light so there is a minimum of top damping. This is where the art of lutherie really comes in and it is a matter of feel. I do not claim to be an expert in this area and there is some voodoo here. Don't worry too much about it. The braces with your kit have been pretty much roughly pre-shaped. Just scallop them more and dress them up and you will be fine. As for glue squeeze out: don't over glue and clean up any squeeze out immediately. Go back later and clean any blebs with a sharp tool. Oh and keep in mind that some of the best sounding instruments of all time had horrible squeeze out. Its an obsessive thang. I'm obsessive. (See Weissenborn).

Steve-atl · Dec 16, 2018

sequoia said:
I don't spend that much time scalloping the back braces. I just sand them to make them look pretty. These braces are mainly for structural purposes and do not contribute much to the sound in my opinion. Then there is always some adjustment so that the ends of the braces don't interfere with the linings. One has to decide if you are going to attach the ends of the back braces through the linings and to the side. I don't do that anymore, but just stop them short of the linings. Your choice.

The top braces however are a different kettle of fish as they do contribute to the sound of the instrument. I scallop them and shave them down to what seems to be the minimum needed to be structurally strong, but light so there is a minimum of top damping. This is where the art of lutherie really comes in and it is a matter of feel. I do not claim to be an expert in this area and there is some voodoo here. Don't worry too much about it. The braces with your kit have been pretty much roughly pre-shaped. Just scallop them more and dress them up and you will be fine. As for glue squeeze out: don't over glue and clean up any squeeze out immediately. Go back later and clean any blebs with a sharp tool. Oh and keep in mind that some of the best sounding instruments of all time had horrible squeeze out. Its an obsessive thang. I'm obsessive. (See Weissenborn).

Thanks

I wish I had not ran the ends of the back braces through the linings and to the side. It turnnd out ugly

Steve-atl · Dec 16, 2018

OK, clearly not as good ass saltytri but not horrible either. The next one will be better

Beau Hannam Ukuleles · Dec 17, 2018

i used to tuck my back braces into the linings with 2mm thick brace ends. My back brace ends now tuck into the linings at 5mm thick.
DO whatever thickness you want as it makes little difference, just TUCK THEM INTO THE LININGS

PereBourik · Dec 17, 2018

Beau Hannam Ukuleles said:
i used to tuck my back braces into the linings with 2mm thick brace ends. My back brace ends now tuck into the linings at 5mm thick.
DO whatever thickness you want as it makes little difference, just TUCK THEM INTO THE LININGS

Because why???

Timbuck · Dec 17, 2018

I have repaired at least 3 cheap ukuleles with cracks in the tops or backs right where the brace ends short of the linings, one brace was about 20 mm short...if the brace ends tuck into the linings this problem goes away.

mineymole · Dec 17, 2018

About The long center back brace and the side linings.... how do you make them, or where can they be purchased? I don’t see them on Stewmac... thanks!

Beau Hannam Ukuleles · Dec 17, 2018

Timbuck said:
I have repaired at least 3 cheap ukuleles with cracks in the tops or backs right where the brace ends short of the linings, one brace was about 20 mm short...if the brace ends tuck into the linings this problem goes away.

WHat timbuck said,
Also, it minimises the back brace (really any brace) from popping off.

Those pics one page one where of David INgalls uke (i think?- i get confused with everyone's strange UU names)
This is one of mine

PereBourik · Dec 17, 2018

Curiosity satisfied. Thanks gents.

sequoia · Dec 17, 2018

Steve-atl said:
OK, clearly not as good ass saltytri but not horrible either. The next one will be better

Looks good Steve. My only thought is that the linings look a little thin if you are planning on installing bindings. Oh, and bindings are not obligatory. Many a fine looking uke do not have bindings.

Steve-atl · Dec 17, 2018

sequoia said:
Looks good Steve. My only thought is that the linings look a little thin if you are planning on installing bindings. Oh, and bindings are not obligatory. Many a fine looking uke do not have bindings.

Thanks John.

I was going to try and install some binding but maybe I will wait until the next one. Thanks for the heads up

Before I glue on the top and bottom?

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