17 Young builder starting 1st mando!

[jjboseker]

Hi! In shop class at school I am an advanced student straying from the general curriculum and got a project approved to build a mandolin! (or a few throughout the entire year). Our shop had a CNC machine that i am very familiar with and frankly run most of the time. This is where i need help. Would machining out the back side and curved sides on the CNC as one piece hurt the sound of the instrument? Is there anything I should know when building with a CNC? ANY input on building this mandolin would be very appreciated! Thanks!

[Atlanta Mando Mike]

This would be good in the builders and repair section. Lots of help for you there!!!

[Paul Busman]

In one piece? That's a really interesting idea. I'd say try it and let us know how it works out.

[pheffernan]

Would machining out the back side and curved sides on the CNC as one piece hurt the sound of the instrument?

Isn't that what Pete Langdell does with his Rigel mandolins?

[Bill Snyder]

Isn't that what Pete Langdell does with his Rigel mandolins?

No. He glues up blocks (similar as to the way turned banjos are made) so as to avoid having short grain at the ends then he machines that into the sides. These sides go over the top and back a bit and have a shelf on which he glues the top and back.

[bart mcneil]

What jjboseker describes as his project is quite similar to a National RM1. The difference being that the RM1 uses a metal resonator cone inside and a metal front. If I understand the National RM1, the body is a single block of wood carved with a CNC. I hope he takes a look at it. I am not knowledgeable about CNC nor sound transmission but it is something jjboseker might want to look at.