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Cool Dave, i'll try to remember that you want to wait untill she's completed, i have a tendancy to ask for pics very often! Will appreciate it more when i do see it! Serge Poirier38948.97875

Serge -

I'm also in the process of building a mando from the Siminoff book. One
warning for you - the different drawings that make up the plans (at least
in my copy) got printed at ever-so-slightly different scales. If you
measure the width of the cross section drawings that show the contour of
the top and back, you'll notice that they don't equal the widths on the
top-view that has reference points where each cross-section is
supposedly taken. What that does is potentially change the shape of your
carved top and back.

Someone not too long ago posted a PDF that was essentially a
topographic map of the top and back of a mando. I used that as a basis
to draw contour lines on the top view drawing in Siminoff, and I've used
that as my guide in carving the top. I've got the outside of the top carved
90%.

One question that has bounced back and forth is whether to do the inside
of the top/back first or the outside first. Siminoff calls for the inside first,
and a couple of respected folks here say the outside first. I'm doing the
outside of my top first and the inside of my back first to see which ends
up being easier.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Jay

Jay,

I think a good arguement for doing the insides first is that you then can still lay your wood flat while carving the outside. If you do the outside first, you'll have to jig or shim the wood to carve the inside.

Thanks a lot Jay, i did not know about the differences you talked about , about that PDF drawing, do you remember the name of that thread? I'd like to have that drawing if possible. There is a difference on soundbox size from the drawing no 4 in the book and the full plan that i purchased separately, i didn't finish cutting my template yet so i guess i should wait?

Thanks for pointing that out to me, i will probably carve the insides first like Carlton mentions if it means one less jig to build but i'd also like to hear what Mario, Arnt and Mark have to say on this!

Thanks again

Serge

Sergio -- I would imagine carving the back and top plate is similar to that of an archtop. I would strongly recommend carving the "top" of the plate first then the inside.

I carve the top first and once I have it to the desired shape I start on the inside. To do the inside I have a simple jig which is a piece of scrap plywood with a dowel stuck in the centre that is capped with a piece of cork. Centre the dowel under a 1/4" drill bit on your drill press and set the depth. (For archtops I set the depth to 5/16" -- it'll probably vary for a mandolin top and back plate). The carved top rides on the top of the cork topped dowel while you drill a series of holes. Then hog out the waste until you get down to the dimples and then finish with a violin or IBEX palm plane and scrapers.

I learned this from the Benedetto Book. A lot of other archtop builders do it this way as well.

Serge did I ever send you the picture file on how to layout the arch? If not, PM me and I will gladly email it to you.

Does the Siminoff book describe the carving process?

Carlton -- if you start with the inside -- it would be vary difficult to carve the top of convex arch to the desired arch and maintain the desired plate thickness.

You know, Serge, after reflecting on it a bit I can also see a strong arguement for doing the outside first--so you can establish the contour you want, then thickness from the inside. That way you won't find that you've overdone or underdone your arch. As you can see, I haven't done this either, so feel free to ignore the man behind the curtain!

Heh! Well, I was typing while Anthony posted. I'd say go with the real wizard! CarltonM38949.9920949074

Hummmm, Anthony, you got good points there bro, i did not read the whole book yet but i will check how exactly Siminoff operates before making my decision, maybe a thorough reading before going any further would be more advised huh? I was going to kick start the project and follow along but me thinks it'd be wiser to read the book first!

Not sure about the file you mention, i know you sent me a file on binding and purfling installation though!

Thanks pal, will pm you my address, i'd love to have that information for sure!

Serge

Thanks Carlton, i only see good intent coming from you also, like i said while posting at the same time as you, i will do a thorough reading first, get that hard head of mine filled to the rim with as much info so i can carefully plan my builds!

Carlton -- I wouldn't characterize myself as the real wizard -- but I have built a few arched instruments.

Serge -- glad to hear that you will be reading the book very carefully. I think you'll find that carving the top and back plates is a lot of fun. I use a cheap angle grinder with a lancelot blade to rough carve the top and inside. Canadian Tire has or had a cheap angle grinder on sale for $9.95 and the Lancelot blade can be had from Lee Valley. Another consideration is to use an angle grinder with 40 grit sanding disks. If you feel aggressive -- Lee Valley also sells the Arbortech which I am told is better than a Lancelot blade. Another alternative is a Kutzall that fits an angle grinder. I believe that is what Howard Klepper uses.

Carving a spruce top with a convex bottomed palm plane works - but you'll find carving the maple back to be a real bear with a hand plane.

Another unsolicited suggestion is to practice on some scrap first -- say scrap pine or poplar -- before you commit the good stuff.

Do you plan on using sitka for the top?

Good advices again Anthony, will check that out for the angle grinder and other goodies!

I do have scrap pieces of pine to practice on

Not sure for the sitka spruce, i'll see what others use first, i have lots of maple to practice on as well.

Yes, i'll read before even jigging up too, wouldn't want to have to redo any jigs!

Thanks bro!

Serge you should have an email with the file mentioned above.

Does MacRostie have a DVD on mando building (I can't recall). I read the multi part GAL articles on MacRostie's mando building. Some of the ways he does stuff kinda struck me as odd -- but who am I to argue with success.

Getting top wedges shouldn't be difficult. AC Woods I'll bet has some as perhaps some of the other sponsors. Can you tell I am getting excited about your F5    

Thanks Anthony, coincidence, you just received a PM!

Yes, Macrostie has a video but i can't afford it for now, i will have to buy me a copy of that for sure tho!!

Sounds like your gonna be building these babies with me my friend! Looking forward to receive your files and to see that SS of yours, i'm gonna be as excited as you are now bro!

Thanks again!

Serge

Here's a link to the contour map mentioned earlier...

http://home.comcast.net/~nicholsw/mando/
Mowry_F5_Contours_9_05.pdf

(sorry, Safari breaks the above URL into two lines)

Thanks again Jay!