Post a picture of what's on your bench?

[Joe Mendel]

Here are two granadillo & lutz spruce octave mandolins for Dream Guitars. This is the first time I've built with lutz, it seems like very nice wood and has a great tap tone.

[Tom Haywood]

New A5 started.

[Rob Zamites]

Got the bottom bracing/frame for 'La Balafenn' done, the top piece had a blow out, so I'm trying to patch it so I don't to have buy another piece of birch and start from scratch for the top frame. The top and bottom will be joined with aspen, walnut or poplar stanchions ( I already have the aspen, might just go with it) and then spindle sanded to fit:





Following in Leroy Beal's footsteps...

[David Houchens]

New single 0 I've been working on forever. Tried a different brand lacquer that's driving me crazy trying to buff out. Totally different than any lacquer I've ever tried to buff. Shame I have 3 more gallons of it.
Strung it up to give it a listen.

[Kennyz55]

Working on a couple of things.

[Dobe]

Among other things, trying to finish up this Mexico Martin, all Hog Dread. What a wreck ! Cracks everywhere and 4 loose back braces. Got her strung up though, all cosmetics from here ! Patch is looking pretty good !

[Rob Zamites]

This:

[Austin Clark]

Lmao! (With you, not at you). We've all been there Rob, don't give up!

[Rob Zamites]

Lmao! (With you, not at you). We've all been there Rob, don't give up!

Thank Austin, it's a learning curve, but a fun one. I will certainly appreciate La Balafenn when she is done, given all the lessons I am learning!

[juneman]

First coat of varnish on A5 #53


WALTER "JUNE" MANDOLINS AND GUITARS

[bernabe]

Im not trying to get up in anybody's business or anything but it just seems like a lot of this thread is like the mandolin in progress thread. maybe this should be more 4 repairs and non mandolin objects

[Charles E.]

Well I guess I could include the absolute mess of a cello top I am restoring.....

[sunburst]

Well I guess I could include the absolute mess of a cello top I am restoring.....

I'd like to see it! There's always something to learn about repairs... always something we've never seen before.

[David Houchens]

maybe this should be more 4 repairs and non mandolin objects

Depends on whats on your bench

Well I guess I could include the absolute mess of a cello top I am restoring.....

I'd like to see to see this as well

[alfie]

My first carved top, a two point in red cedar. It's a lovely piece of wood, it's so hard I would guess it was douglas if if I had a peg over my nose!

[Charles E.]

In response to John and David, here is the cello top I mentioned. It is a 19th century German cello.
Some previous repair person(s) glued the cracks and put in a new bass bar. However, they put 'spring' in the bar and it caused the top arch to deform and caused more cracks.
Unfortunately the longest crack under the bass bar is stepped and has been glued with super glue or epoxy.

[Charles E.]

Here are some pics of other cracks that were black from years of dirt. I cleaned them with hot water to get the old glue out and finished with deionized water.

[David Houchens]

Charles, Can you correct the arch with the new bass bar or let it remain if stable? I like the clamps. I have a few for violin but nothing that deep.

[Pete Jenner]

My car's engine is on my bench. I'm too knackered to post a picture. Just got to work out a way of holding the crankshaft still without the proprietary tool while I remove the main drive pulley.

[Charles E.]

Charles, Can you correct the arch with the new bass bar or let it remain if stable? I like the clamps. I have a few for violin but nothing that deep.

David, John (my employer) and I will form a plan of action when he gets back in town. There are five cracks, about 5mm apart from each other and one goes two thirds the length of the top. The top will have to be pressed back to the original arch with heat. I don't think we are going to get involved with castings and all that, probably add some cross braces that will be under the new bar.

[fscotte]

My mostest favorite part of the entire process... buffing out the layers of lacquer.

[David Houchens]

I hope to enjoy it again. When I get some different lacquer. Nice colors.

[Mike Black]

This is what my messy bench looks like right now.

[Charles E.]

Mike, that is a wonderful shot of your work place. Looks like you are trying to get the ribs to line up with the shrunken back on a Gibson snakehead.

[Mike Black]

Looks like you are trying to get the ribs to line up with the shrunken back on a Gibson snakehead.

That is correct. It's working.