Good work, Lappy, and nice to see you back at the Cafe. Hope everything's going well. Any tunes for us?
Ranald
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Wetting to raise the grain on a two-point. This is going to look good.
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First ever attempt at "real" inlay!
Due to COVID pandemic circumstances, I've been set up in our apartment on one bench working at like 1/10th speed with my studio packed up in storage awaiting a major move several states away. Here's the first of some new mandolin and octave mandolin models that have been on the back burner for years. Feels good to get these going.
Here is a book match for a top. Might have a challenge with the end being ripped out, and maybe not I’lll just make it to neck side instead of the end of the instrument. The colors made me think I mixed up a couple wedges but the saw marks line up correctly. Funny how things can color change.Attachment 193547Attachment 193548Attachment 193549
A rounder bodied baroque mandolin coming up to completion soon...
https://i.imgur.com/W2Ig3Ri.jpg
I got great string tension. The cast and structure is holding up well.
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Its fully tuned. No stress cracks. Nothing for issues.
Thanks for looking.
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Grain filling with epoxy on the right; gives a good indication of what it'll look like when varnished!
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I bought an old Washburn M2 that missing a top and carved a new one. It is the first time I used micro mesh pads on the shellac, and I was surprised at how much sheen I could achieve. Also shown is my K Salon hot hide glue pot which also melts wax to get rid of unwanted hair. Luthiers have to look their best even in the workshop!:)
Every now and then, I get an instrument that compels me get the rubber gloves out. This teens Gibson oval hole mandolin is the worst so far and was a measure more gross than your typical player mung.
The mandolin is owned by a person that is suffering from Dementia and unrecognized by, or unknown to him, there was a rather bad roach and carpet bug infestation in his home. I brought this to the attention of the person helping him out and the issue has since been dealt with.
The mandolin had hung on his wall, undisturbed and un-played for several years. The dark dots and streaks seen in the images, are insect excrement. This person is also a heavy smoker and the instrument was well laced with Nicotine funk. The original case was stored in a closet and had a few roaches still doing their thing when it was given to me. I immediately sprayed it with Permethrin for fabrics, followed with a thorough vacuuming.
A few pics from the bench...
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Nicotine funk coming off of pick guard
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A surprise waiting for me inside.
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I think that is a stink bug all the way to the right. Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere...
The inside of that old Gibson is gross.
Repeat after me: "No thank you."
End of discussion!
Well worth saving. It will be beautiful once you're done.
Yep, been there , seen that. After working as a violin repairer and builder for 26 + years, I have seen lots of bug (cockroach) poo and even skeletons of mice inside instruments.
That should clean up ok.
Eeww. Yuck. The mandolin will be so happy when you are done.
Hah. All I can think about is the summer my brother and I were tasked with removing 25 years of bat guano from the attic of an old house that had been divided into apartments, in Eastern NC. That mandolin might be unpleasant, but it can always be worse . . .
The mandolin did clean up nicely and the bug excrement all came off without leaving any staining or blemishes. Still have some poo spots inside and I may yet go after those with a bit of dampened rag taped onto a stiff wire. I used an ultrasonic cleaner with a Windex bath for the tuners and metal parts, a real time saver and cleaned them up like new. Waiting now for strings to come in, so I can do a setup and get it finish up. It is an all the original example, with original case and is structurally sound. It will be a rather nice piece once I get it set up.