HI, all
I've been reading this forum for a while - it's time I introduce myself.
I'm a recently retired mechanical engineer. I worked mostly in research with structures and vibration, and did some composite (graphite/epoxy) design work for aerospace stuff a few years ago.
I've always done some woodworking, and for about the last 10 years I've been building and selling wooden music stands locally. And, I've built some furniture on commission. I've also built several wooden boats, and, for a while, I was making and selling wooden kayak paddles.
I've always been interested in wood as a structural material and have tried to apply my engineering experience to designing and working in wood.
The kayak paddles I made were about as light and stiff as the best carbon fiber paddles - I made hollow shafts (western red cedar) that were designed for maximum strength and minimum weight.
I've also built a few woodworking machines along the way - all wooden frames - including an 18 inch bandsaw, an oscillating spindle sander, and a 6x48 belt sander.
About 10 years ago I bought myself a guitar from a local manufacturer - American Acoustech - and planned to teach myself to play. I was frustrated and gave up after a few weeks. A year ago or so my daughter ( now 15) became interested in the guitar - partly because the instrument was hanging around - and started taking lessons. She's become pretty good and now wants to teach me to play - but since she's assumed ownership of my guitar I'm left without an instrument. Building my own guitar seemed to be the logical solution.
So that's how I got started. So far, I've got Cumpiano's book and Kinkead's and have read them cover-to-cover, along with Sloane's. Now, I'm in the jig and machine-building phase. Hopefully, I'll actually start on a guitar soon. The next thing is to build a drum sander - I've got most of the stuff I'll need just lying around.
As far as wood - I've got a beautiful 14 foot long, 12 inch wide piece of Honduran Mahogany that is left over from a boat that I built with my brother in the late 60's. It's been hanging around in my garage and attic for most of that time. And, just by chance, it is perfectly quartered. My brother died many years ago, so this piece of wood has real meaning to me. I don't plan to use it until I have a couple of guitars under my belt. I did find a beautiful piece of Sapele at my local Woodcraft store, so that I'm going to start with. And, I've got a few Sitka tops that I bought from a tonewood dealer in Canada.
I do have a quick question. I want to get a new blade for resawing, and my bandsaw takes a 120" blade, so I have to have it made to size. Any recommendations for made-to-length blade suppliers?
Phil
