I’m just wondering if there’s a finishing technique that’s half way between an oil rubdown and multiple coats/cans of nitro-cellulose?

Welcome and cheers for the Q's! Yup - Making Ukes is great practice and cheaper than guitars but it can be a lesson in humility... tighter bends, tinier everything... the good news is that when you go...

@markbailey thanks for the reply. Yep only just got the sides bent and it was rough going. I think there may be a bit to much spring back in them but they’re in the mold no ready for the next step. on...

@mvandenoudenhotmail-co-uk Check out the Bagpress videos - my next Uke will have laminated sides:

Hi M, Welcome to the clubhouse! If you can private message me the shape of the sides as a PDF then I'll have a go at laminating one from veneers. Let me know how thick you are finishing at if differen...

And what you are experiencing with the tear out is due to the timber having what is know as interlocking grain ie it changes direction throughout the thickness of the timber. You can reduce the degree...

@mvandenoudenhotmail-co-uk I recommend that it dispenses very strong coffee and even stronger liquor!

I realised today how I can keep out of Guitar Casualty. I swapped the fluorescent strip light in my shed for an LED strip light. I can now actually what I'm doing! Apparently I've built my last guita...

I've heard they are great - was it expensive? Where did you get it from? I need about 20!

I have done all 7 of the tubes in my garage/workshop since last Summer. You can get LED tubes that will go in existing fittings - they come with a new starter - they work well and will save on power -...

Show off! I got a 1.8m long 48W number from Toolstation. I Cost 28 quid and lights up my single garage, er.... guitar workshop beautifully. And bonus is that it comes on at the flick of a switch inst...

The instant bit is very good - decided I needed to replace some when I went into the other bit of the garage where the big tools live to cut something on the bandsaw - waited about half a minute for l...

Cheers folks - I'll check them out!

Oh wow, my dilemma is shadows. LED eliminates it?

Only if you're a vampire..... or is that mirrors......? But yeah it greatly reduces shadows which is whgbI used to have an adjustable spotlight. I reckon if I got a second one it would pretty much be ...

My garage is quite big (26’ x 16’) but there are other claims on the space...... To avoid shadows you need to not have lights behind you but you can help by having white (or light colours) on the ceil...

Thanks for the great advice folks and your comment Russ, you sweet talking thang! I've still got the piece I cut out for the sound hole so I'll use that as a template to try Mark's idea first. If that...

I can't see what's wrong with it James.....but I guess I'm new to all of this. Cheers, Russ

Hi James Cant you clamp a template over the soundboard with a circular hole in it and rout the old rosette out with a bearing guided cutter? You wouldn't even need to go the full depth, just enough to...

I kind of like the way it looks...rustic...a bit cartoony...you could charge extra for that ? Rosette Fix: Make a plug that fits tight into the soundhole so you can re-do the inside and outside circle...