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Happy fathers day!

I got my Harp Guitar mold finished... came out real nice. Also got most of my Williams Binding jig finsihed. Just have to finish the metal work and guitar holding jig. Also, in the planning stages of a versitile thickness sander with added functionality (yup, will double as a buffer). Will start the Fox Bending machine soon (with cut away option).

Mike (someone please advise as to the best router to attach to the WBJ, leaning towards the Bosch)

Congrats on the mold Mike.

I just played around with Joy and my new old tractor.



Joy is three months old and came for Fathers Day visit, grandfathers day actually. She is growing alert and strong, grins a lot.

I've been grinning a lot too the last couple days. This tractor is the same species of one my Dad had for haying in the sixties. It's an Allis Chalmers CA built in 1952, the 78th off the production line that year. Made in West Allis, Wisconsin. Has a secondary hand clutch to allow disengagement of drive train yet PTO remains powered, a cool innovation back then. One owner, then a collector who decided to go all Farmall, to me. Only thing missing are two headlamps, oh, and my brain, according to my wife!

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I got my usual Father's Day canoe rides with each of my three kids. We have a beautiful little river running across the back of our yard, so its really easy to just go! Its a great way to spend some time with each of them and do something out of the ordinary.

As for gifting, well I received a copy of the Odyssey. I'm reading the Iliad right now and I'll just have to know what happens after the Achaeans sack Troy! I was going to buy the two books together a few months ago, but the Odyssey wasn't on the sale table and the young clerk just gave me a dumbfounded look when I asked for it.

I also received a subscription to Archeology magazine.

Absolutely nothing guitar related. Nobody even suggested, "Hey Papa, why don't we jam on a few tunes?", or said, "Hey Doug, why don't you go spend a couple of hours in the shop working on your guitar stuff? I promise that no one will bother you or make you feel like you should be doing something else!"

Funny how that happens...

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

My weekend starts today! OH YEAH!
But, I was in prison all day on Father's Day and got to hear the crooks whine about how hot it was.
I did glue on a bridge plate and whittle off more wood on the top braces.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

I got to work all weekend... thats the thing with running a pub, day off??? whats that then?

Harp guitar mold? wow cool. i've only ever seen one of those, played by andy mckee. and that was amazing. i'd love to see some pics on the building process of that thing... i'd imagine it'd have to be really strong with the extra strings

Starting to assembly my fretboard compound radius jig, thanks to the ideas of several members of this forum.

I've been stalled on guitar building lately because of this step, and a swarm of house repairs.

I'll post some pics when I get it done.

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Horton, MI

Which pub is that, then?

The Nags Head in Bishops Stortford Herts

Will be posting pics soon. Lots of jig building for the time being.

Mike

Sorry about the fuzzy pics...took on my phone...

looking good

how many harp strings are you putting on that? and what kind of pitch???

6 sub-basses

Mike

nice!

I look forward to seeing the results

I am cleaning out the shop. I got a shipment of 25 adi tops, but got shorted 5. My supplier is really cool though and apologized for the mistake and promptly mailed the missing 5 with one extra.
2 new tops joined, 2 bocote backs joined, one set of sides starting to thickness, and as for the laminate router advice: don't get the rigid. Mine was 6 months old and started smoking this weekend.

Did you explain to it that smoking was a bad health choice?

Mike

For anybody wondering, I used red oak for the hardwood parts in the Williams jig (including the guitar clamps). Could not find maple as called out in the plans. It did not make sense to me to make the clamps out of 3/4 birch plywood.

Mike

any news on this harp guitar yet?

No, not really. I just got my bender built, and I need to order the blankets. I do have all of the wood though (figured bubinga ala Bruce Dickey) and a beautiful top set from Shane at High Mountain Tonewood.

The thing that is really slowing me down is thicknessing. I have yet to decide on the process.

Thanks for asking and I will update soon.

Mike

Some news. I got the bending forms built today. Sides are properly sized and ready for tomorrow's bend. Also, got the top and back thickness sanded and I will bind them soon.

Mike

Got the top side into the bender. Bruce Dickey, are ya hearing this? I finally got to using that Bubinga you sent to me! I thinned the sides down from .1 to about 0.08" and shaped and bent the top side. Still got to cook it one more time, then I will do the bottom side.

Mike