And now for something completely different… (guitarmaking by a geo-geek)
Guitarmaking (a subset of lutherie) has been an alleged hobby of mine for quite a few years– from the moment I started my first guitar in 1996 or 1997. Over the years, I’ve continue to acquire tools and wood, and started a couple more guitars. I had lots of fire behind my workshop work 7 years ago. And then I got a new and wonderful job. And had a new and wonderful baby boy. And a few years later a new and wonderful baby girl.
Welp, been getting back in the shop in the last few days, and have some pics from assembly. I will build these out over time with explanations, and probably in a separate blog, but for now, you must suffer with unexplained photos re: the mysteries of lute making.
Curly Redwood Top — jointed and sanded to thickness. This is the face of the future tenor guitar.
Curly Claro walnut back — unjoined. This will be the back of the tenor guitar.
Joining the curly claro walnut back by cutting along the tops of the board with a plane.
Curls of walnut from the German E.C. Emmerich Primus Plane.
Jointed claro walnut boards reunited.
Animal hide glue, one syringe at a time. Animal hide glue can be a pain to use, but get a cheap hot pot like this, some syringes, and make your hot hide glue on the fly. It works beautifully, saves on lost glue, and gives the ideal joint. Animal hide glue is permanent (lasts hundreds or thousands of years) but will come apart with heat and water, and thus can always be repaired.
Sophisticated clamping devices (a pile of wood with a toolbox on top), framed nicely by a disgusting basement wall.
And… it was a bad joint, or badly assembled. Some parchment paper and an iron lets me separate and start over with no drama.
And that’s it. I hope you enjoyed. If not, back to Geo posts anyway… .
Smathermather's Weblog 
Nice! Keep these coming!
Thanks!