Here is my new mandolin. (I am terrified!)

[DrewWalden]

I got the wood in for my first scratch build. I am both excited and terrified. I am sure I will be pestering y'all a lot in the next few months.

[Rob Grant]

Now all you have to do is remove what doesn't look like a mandolin and Bob's your uncle!<G>

[MikeEdgerton]

Now all you have to do is remove what doesn't look like a mandolin and Bob's your uncle!<G>

But of course!

[Timbofood]

I can say this because I have not taken the step you already have....
It will be fine! The amazing knowledge researchable here will give you more resources than ever before available to a first time builder! No better support system has ever been afforded the first (second, third.....) time builder than this forum. Builders of ALL levels have and will chime in when you hit a bump.
My, non builder, recommendations are:
Sharp tools work better, learn that early
Time is still your friend, once you take material off, you can't put it back....measure thrice, cut, carefully.
Don't worry, a not so much mandolin that you have made is better than no mandolin!
Take your time and enjoy it!
Oh, and when it comes down to set up, look at Rob Meldrums Book!

[Russ Donahue]

I got the wood in for my first scratch build. I am both excited and terrified. I am sure I will be pestering y'all a lot in the next few months.

It's gorgeous.....

[SergeantMike]

Good luck. It is a good time and being on the other end of a scratch build the things to be learned are enormous. Following up on Timbofood's advice. If you have the slightest hesitation about doing something or cutting something, put it down walk away for the day and start fresh in the morning. I have saved myself a lot of redo's because I listened to that "little voice" that said don't do it. and my last piece of advice is that they will always sell you another piece of wood.

[SergeantMike]

Good luck. It is a good time and being on the other end of a scratch build the things to be learned are enormous. Following up on Timbofood's advice. If you have the slightest hesitation about doing something or cutting something, put it down walk away for the day and start fresh in the morning. I have saved myself a lot of redo's because I listened to that "little voice" that said don't do it. and my last piece of advice is that they will always sell you another piece of wood.

[Tommcgtx]

I got the wood in for my first scratch build. I am both excited and terrified. I am sure I will be pestering y'all a lot in the next few months.

Very nice! I hope to be at that stage sometime in the future! Where did you buy your wood from?

[Bluetickhound]

Mods... this thread may be sticky-worthy...

OP, please post regularly to keep us up to speed on this. You are doing exactly what I hope to do one day. I had considered one of the prefab kits you see advertused but your way is infinitely more appealing to me.

[pfox14]

What's the pile of wood gonna be? An A - F - other?

[Mark Wilson]

It's gorgeous.....

[Nevin]

Nice. Best of luck. I am more than a bit jealous.

[buckhorn]

I can just see it now.....

[Chuck D]

Just finished my first mandolin scratch build.
A very satisfying project...you're gonna love it
How do you plan on bending the sides?

[DrewWalden]

Its gonna be an f-style. I got the wood from (http://adirondackspruce.com/mandolinwood2.htm). Chuck I haven't even thought of that yet. My first step is building a good workbench. That brings me to my first question… Does anyone have plans for a good workbench. I would love to see what everyones work space looks like. That would be a cool thread I think.

[AaronVW]

Good stuff! That picture looks a lot like the first photo in my second build photo gallery on my profile page. There is a thread of cafe members' workshops here: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...e-of-your-Shop
Enjoy building and keep us posted on the progress!

[bmac]

A work bench can be two 2" x 10" x 5' (or whatever size) on a solid base of some sort.... The benches I've seen from Sears, etc. are light weight and in my opinion barely adequate for serious wood working. There are a bunch of woodworking benches shown for home builders on the internet... Google "Woodworking bench plans" and you will find lots of ideas for benches of all sizes and space limitations. A serious woodworking bench will have features for holding the wood secure on the table or next to the table while carving, sawing, chiseling, drilling, etc... For the serious builder or woodworker these benches are wonderful. Making a good woodworking bench is doable and affordable but the same bench purchased already built can cost an arm and a leg.

Sometimes you can find wood working benches from people's homes who are moving or cleaning out surplus stuff. Sometimes they are quality items.

[Cheryl Watson]

You are a brave soul! I've never built a mandolin (want to though) and I cannot give you any advice but to have patience--walk away when it is overwhelming and go back to it when you are centered again, oh, and you can take wood off but you can't put it back on

[Rob Grant]

Cheryl wrote: "you can take wood off but you can't put it back on."

Wanna' bet on that?<G>

[Ivan Kelsall]

Drew - You must have nerves of steel !. I've refurbished many instruments years back but never built one 'from the ground up'. The only advice i could give,would be to 'think before you do'. At each stage of your building,consider what you're about to do & if the 'way' you're going to do it will bring the best results. Don't ever opt for the 'quickest' way against the 'better' way. It's not a race against time,it's about building the best instrument that you can. I've spent over a month applying the finish on a banjo neck,allowing the first coat to dry hard,sanding,more varnish.... etc. Go with your gut instinct & you'll be fine & good luck - i wish i had the guts !!!,
Ivan

[Bertram Henze]

Its gonna be an f-style.

I could tell from the curves in the OP photo

Apart from that, that photo closely resembles what I had after unpacking my last purchase from IKEA. To think what I could have done with it! Now you do it. Make us proud.

[StuartGold]

I share your pain. After making a kit a year or so ago, I decided to try a scratch build. I ordered the wood from John at Old World Tonewood in West Virginia. I received the box of great quality wood and preceded to stare at the pile for a month until I had the courage to start. I had ordered extra rim wood as I had no experience with bending and then broke most of the pieces learning how to bend. I now have most of the rim bent and the blocks cut. Now all I need to do is carve the top, back and neck and fit the whole thing together to make it look like a mandolin. Who knows how it will sound? What was I thinking? All I can say is THANK GOD for this website or I would be LOST.

[Rick Lindstrom]

Its gonna be an f-style. (EDIT)

At your level of expertise, you'll (probably) be a happier camper if you start with an A model.

Just sayin'.......

Have fun with your build. My first (an A <LOL>) started as a very similar box of lumber from Old Standard. I had many guitar, banjo and dulcimer builds under my belt at that point, and I was definitely glad I decided to build an A for the first.

[Nick Gellie]

You could start with the Campfire Stewmac A mandolin kit. It costs $158 and has a really good manual to go with it. Prepare for the F5 build but start the Campfire Mandolin kit ahead of it so that you can get your skills up and running before you got to the major build. it won't take that long and you will learn lots of good skills along the way that you can apply to your F5 build.

Just a thought.

[Gregooch]

It can't sound any worse then the Tacoma I played this morning at my local guitar shop.