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Hesh,

I bet it felt good to get back to building. It is like therapy. You sure work clean, guitar and shop (ehmm toi-toi!)

I am lusting for some festool tools. But, too many irons in the fire right now. But, one day.....

Good work with the joining, I just got a # 6 plane and I am pretty excited to try it out. Did you use hide glue on the back strip?

Jeff

Hesh:

Wow, that's sharp. If you don't mind the question, which Performax do you have, do you like the way it operates and how do you control all that dust it generates? The festool vac?

Bill

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Thanks for the inservice. I saw that unit at a woodcraft not long ago. Some guy was doing a demo, and it looked really great. I just wondered how it worked when hooked up to the Performax.

Good information to know. Thanks again.

Bill

_________________
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Hesh,

Be sure and keep us posted on this build. I'm finishing up my first mahogany guitar. While I think it will come out sounding very nice, I find mahogany has been less than a pleasure to build with. So I'd be interested in reading about your experiences.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

[quote]What a pleasure. I almost wished I had two identical tops so I could just plane one of them away it was so very relaxing. [/quote]

   I like the sound of a good clean plane cut! That's some very nice mahogany!

Billy Dean

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Looks good so far my friend. That BRW does look awesome. I have to get back to the shop soon too...

...And you forgot about HHG!!!    



Now you've gotten me interested in that fancy festool...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Well Done Hesh

I think thats a No. 5 Plane isn't it, it is the same as mine, and if Todd set it up, I bet it is spot on.

I remember a similiar moment the first time I had a truely sharp chisel put in my hands, sharpening and set up is one of the best skills you can learn with hand tools.

Nice work!

(and, um, isn't that just a #5? #7's are waaaay bigger than that aren't they?)

Yep #5, same as mine, oh Russell just said that! I've got half a dozen just like it and will buy them whenever I see them, I just love fettling an old unloved plane and turning it into a tool of beauty. You can keep your power tools give me a good edge tool any day. Yes I remember my first truly sharp blade moment,oh nostalgia nostalgia, they don't make it like they used to!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Here is some Nostalgia for you Colin

When I first left school I work for a time in construction, and one of the Carpenters I used to come across, worked almost exclusively with hand tools, they used to tease him about his "old fashioned methods and tools" but come the end of any day, and you would find he had done more than most and certainly to a higher standard. I used to try and get myself asigned to working with him as even at the age of 16 I loved to see the way he did things (Also he way a lot nicer than most, and would actually teach you).

I cannot believe you took 10 days off. That is at least 2 guitars for you!!!!

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Michael what are you running into with Mahogany that you are less than pleased about?[/QUOTE]

Welp, for starters, bending the sides was not fun. With the first set of sides, I managed to crack one. Also, they developed "ripples.", especially at the lower bout. Second set I bent, I used slats with my mold, and used less water, took my time bending them. This time, no cracks, but I still got ripples, although milder, along the lower bouts. In the waist area of one side, it developed a couple of small wrinkles that wouldn't sand out. Sides were thicknessed to about 0.080" so I was kinda surprised about this.

I also find that this mahogany I have (Honduran, but rather pale in color) tends to tear when using a cabinet scraper, with the grain pulling up. A wash coat of shellac to fix the grain and then sanding it down took care of the problem, but I wasn't used to this.

I wasn't all that impressed with the tap tone of the back plates. The ring was more muted than I prefer. But I was surprised once the box was closed how alive the guitar began to feel. The back taps very nicely now. Another thing that I was surprised about, after building mostly rosewood guitars, was how light this guitar is. I think the light weight will probably be an asset, since this is a classical. I'll know more soon. I hope to have it strung up tomorrow.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Hesh I been hearing a lot on these festool's on here. Are they realy that good? Their prices are really high. It seems like every few years a new worlds greatest tool company comes out thats supposed to be the best. Remember Fein Tools.

Hesh,

Thanks for the "in progress" report. We all love to see those finished beauties, but the process is really what this forum is all about.

I, too, had thought of incorporating a straight edge into a shooting board, but I was always overthinking potential designs. Yours is simplicity itself! Thanks!

[quote]Ah so it's progress pics that you like eh. Great since I love snapping a picture every few minutes any way..... [/quote]

   Sounds like a win/win to me!!
    
     You probably don't have a go-bar deck Hesh? Have you thought of using the ceiling like that other thread mentioned?

   I don't really get the straight edge thing, wouldn't you just cut the rails as it shows? Is there something I'm not seeing?

    The sole of the typically used plane rides on the high spots referencing them for the cutting, but that's only as good as the length of the sole, using the straight edge is a great idea because it references the whole length of the edge! At least as I understand it.

    You gotsta like that mahogany! This is beter than watching a movie! How does it end? How does it end?

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] BTW Carlton don't all shooting boards have straight edges incorporated into them?   If not how does a shooting board without a straight edge result in a straight cut?[/QUOTE]
By making a smooth, straight cut and relying on the sole. That's why many people prefer long jointer planes for the job. I've had a lot of trouble getting a straight cut with my jack plane (seems to switch between high or low in the middle) so I thought of incorporating a straight edge. That's why I like your uncomplicated solution.

BTW, I see by your back graft that you can predict the future! CarltonM38887.6847569444

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Now if I can keep Lacey's mits off it (I am hiding pens....) and not have her write something mushy on it we will be all set. No respect I tell ya..... [/QUOTE]
I feel it's my responsibility to mention that the traditional inside-the-box scribbler of choice is the pencil. Pens disappear all the time, but pencils...well, I think you're out of luck there, my friend. Besides, people a century from now will smile widely at her first missive! "Built in Lacey's bathroom"--now that's a personal touch!