Nail Biting Time

[Timbuck]

That would be very scary for me to take a router to that top, I might have a shot of whiskey before I tried that!

That comes after

 

[EDW]

Progressing at a steady rate ..had two days away from the workshop at a funeral now back to work.
Mrs T puts on a coat of shellac prior to cutting the binding channel cos this wood can be a little unstable and prone to chipping and splinters.

Yes, but what kind of wood is that door? Maybe you can make some sides out of it

 

[Timbuck]

The Door is Meranti I bought 4 doors second hand many years ago ...Two of them are now part of the house ...the other two were used in ukulele making in some of my early ukulele projects.

 

[kerneltime]

Progressing at a steady rate ..had two days away from the workshop at a funeral now back to work.
Mrs T puts on a coat of shellac prior to cutting the binding channel cos this wood can be a little unstable and prone to chipping and splinters.
View attachment 157780

It does look quite pretty! I was hoping for a higher res photo on Flickr, any how, will eagerly wait for updates

 

[Timbuck]

For Ritesh , progress report ... Photography is not my thing but this is about as good as i can do with the iPad.


IMG_5914 by Ken Timms,

 

[kerneltime]

For Ritesh , progress report ... Photography is not my thing but this is about as good as i can do with the iPad.


IMG_5914 by Ken Timms,

Lovely!

 

[Wiggy]

I would call it "Dreamy."

 

[badhabits]

To Ritesh, whoever you are... I think you are the person who donated the EJ Henderson and Timms to TUS for the Maui benefit auctions. If so, a HUGE "well done" and mahalo nui loa!!!

 

[Timbuck]

Finally got this one with strings on and tuned up ... It looks gorgeous and sounds great ...but I'm a little disappointed with the material structure
the soundboard is .070" thick which is in the same ball park as my Honduran sopranos but it is very flexible almost plastic and it allows the bridge to rotate causing it to concave .... I'm now considering adding an extra brace. ... or should I leave it as is.

IMG_5945 by Ken Timms,
IMG_5946 by
IMG_5947 by Ken Timms,

 

[Graham Greenbag]

Finally got this one with strings on and tuned up ... It looks gorgeous and sounds great ...but I'm a little disappointed with the material structure
the soundboard is .070" thick which is in the same ball park as my Honduran sopranos but it is very flexible almost plastic and it allows the bridge to rotate causing it to concave .... I'm now considering adding an extra brace. ... or should I leave it as is.

It looks fantastic.

Maybe ask the customer …

As it’s all assembled how will you add a brace or two? How will you decide what to add? If you’re able to take it apart and add some light braces then the odds are that you’ll be much happier with the outcome.

Makes one understand why a lot of commercial builders leave their soundboards on the thicker side.

 

[EDW]

Lovely looking instrument. As it is right now I would not be overly concerned. My only question would be if it might get worse over time.

 

[kerneltime]

Finally got this one with strings on and tuned up ... It looks gorgeous and sounds great ...but I'm a little disappointed with the material structure
the soundboard is .070" thick which is in the same ball park as my Honduran sopranos but it is very flexible almost plastic and it allows the bridge to rotate causing it to concave .... I'm now considering adding an extra brace. ... or should I leave it as is.

IMG_5945 by Ken Timms,
IMG_5946 by
IMG_5947 by Ken Timms,

If the intonation is correct then it should not matter. A lot of ukes have a slight tilt

 

[John Colter]

This is what can happen when timber is chosen for its appearance. To give such an amazing pattern, the direction of the grain must be all over the place. The photo of the piece that broke when being bent clearly showed the discontinuity of the grain direction.

 

[John Colter]

I know you are working with the wood that was supplied, Ken (I'm in awe of what you have achieved) but judging from the photos, the direction of the grain on the front looks as though it flows across the width rather than being orientated in line with the strings.

 

[Timbuck]

This is what can happen when timber is chosen for its appearance. To give such an amazing pattern, the direction of the grain must be all over the place. The photo of the piece that broke when being bent clearly showed the discontinuity of the grain direction.View attachment 158630

All that glitters John

 

[John Colter]

You've made a terrific job of working with that timber, Ken. The uke looks amazing. I'm sure its owner will be delighted.

 

[printer2]

I would add a brace.

 

[Smallchewbacca]

Is there a way to test what an additional brace would do to the sound and the extra rigidity it might add? Then the choice could take the pros and cons into consideration

 

[Timbuck]

I know you are working with the wood that was supplied, Ken (I'm in awe of what you have achieved) but judging from the photos, the direction of the grain on the front looks as though it flows across the width rather than being orientated in line with the strings.

Yes John you are quite right the grain runs in the wrong direction ... I mentioned earlier that I had a split across the grain where I made an invisible repair (I should have noticed it then, but I just assumed it was random grain pattern).. I had saved an off cut of the book matched top so I did an experiment with it...the grain should run in line with the centre seam as the white arrows. And it should spit along that line under pressure from the end cutters, but when I applied pressure it did not split "just dented" ? ...but across the grain it split easily ... So whoever made up the set when re-sawing got it wrong...Now I know what Howard Hughs felt like when he tested the Spruce Goose.Grain direction test by Ken Timms,

 

[Timbuck]

Well I added a centre brace , it is now a flat top . it looks good . intonation good .... Volume ? No comment ... it would sound ok with a pickup Maybe ?

IMG_5970 by Ken Timms,