Hi there and Happy new year to one and all! It already seems like a long time ago!Now, how is this for frustrating? I  have just had a delivery from my favourite engineering company containing the machined shaft and bored…   Read more»

The hi-tech methods are often the best! Have a great new year sticking on your X braces!Darren

I should add that these images are pre-sanding

I have had a further thought about the construction of these double tops and that was that if I incorporated a narrow cross grain section down the centre line this would reinforce the central joint in the outer skins of…   Read more»

I don’t seem to have posted a pic of my Maccaferri Concert with strings on so here it is, hanging in a small Scottish cottage that may be known to some of you! I do need to unstring it again…   Read more»

Hi Bill,This is all looking great, love the Rickenbacker style sound hole. I had one of the Axminster drum sanders for many years and it was a great bit of kit. The two things that I did to mine were to…   Read more»

 Hi Cardiff,Oh, essential – you just have to get a laser cutter! The problem is that there are just too many things that you can do with them that it’s almost impossible to know where to start!Now that the soundboards…   Read more»

I now have all the externally sourced bits for the fret slot saw other than the main shaft which I am having made in the next week or two. In the past I have always sent the relevant components to…   Read more»

Getting a bit ‘off piste’ (pun intended!) but aren’t these always the best conversations?Essential topical listening, as is pretty much everything by David Sedaris!https://youtu.be/g8LlwlCU0EA

I’m with you. It’s always important to conduct a thorough top of the packet/bottom of the packet comparison test for QA purposes. I know this isn’t for everyone but I find that cream centre biscuits such as bourbons, custard creams…   Read more»

My only comment would be that I don’t think Bill has made enough of an allowance for tea. All of that watching videos and double and treble checking sounds like very thirsty work to me! Ideally make a large mug…   Read more»

 I think I would have to say that it depends on the material the decal is made of and how it has been printed. Ideally you would make an inlaid logo from contrasting veneer as this is likely to take…   Read more»

Hi Mark,Thanks for the feedback and that makes everything a lot simpler. If I ever make a uke I can just take a bit more off the fretboard when I machine the radius to get the slot depth correct. Of…   Read more»

The question is how adjustable does it need to be for depth of cut? How often do you need to cut different depths of fret slot or can it pretty much be set up permanently with a fixed cut depth?…   Read more»

Ok. It certainly made it easier to bend the bindings having been pre-soaked and the non-vacuum test absorbed 4g of water into 66cc of wood so pretty much the same albeit left submerged for quite a lot longer ie overnight.Clearly…   Read more»

Hi there,I have used Osmo oils for about 15 years and they are far superior to the old Danish oil primarily because they don’t get sticky anywhere near as quickly and so you don’t get all of those fibers pulled…   Read more»

Just a few notes on bandsaw set up.One thing that is often overlooked when setting up a bandsaw is to ensure that the blade is properly tensioned and running in the centre of the tyre and then check that the…   Read more»