I tend not to use them, Mark. I do use Music Nomad, they are ok, and I love their nut files, they are not bad at all. So here is my bending machine, Electric. When the parts come, two interchangeable shapes, one round, the other slightly pear-shaped, because that’s how it went when I tried to file it smooth and roundish, but I think it will come in handy, and I left the entire length and added a removable shelf so I can keep the sides at 45 degrees to the iron when i bend them cheers
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a little further, so job done easily switched over electrical bits due tomorrow, so let’s see, cheers all HEC
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I love stew mac, but they have a seriously high markup. I still thank them for what the do for the community though.
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Ok, so today I stuck in and worked all day on this project, and I am very happy with the way it has turned out. It is really good, heats up in seconds and regulates just as good. I am very happy with it. The total cost was 15 pounds for extra-long drill bits, the stat and heater would have cost me about 48 pounds, but I got them gifted. Job done
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Started the side panels today, and after the replacement wood came for the back, I can honestly say I am not pleased with the supplier I used, not to mention names, but they are UK-based, and I won’t use them again. Anyway, I have to work with what I have got, so I started, and it is starting to look pretty nice, cheers
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Hec, having also grown up in the woodworking trade from birth, let me congratulate you for your skill & ingenuity not only in taking on such a painstaking undertaking , but also in having the patience & resourcefulness to improvise your own tools & jigs. You deserve every success in your endeavors.
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Thank you, Jonathan, that means a lot. Thanks again, HEC
You’re welcome. By the way, a neighbor who’s a serious guitarist built an OM from a Stewmac kit, and produced a masterpiece that plays nicely and sounds great. Being on the Maine coast, he made an inlay of a red lobster that must have been quite a chore to cut out and inset, but he did a beautiful job of it.
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I really struggled with that bit, Jonathan. I may have been better off trying a kit first. I’m not sure if there is a difference, but all this is from scratch. I have been prepping the side for three days now, and I still have a bit to go, man but ill keep going cheers
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So today I finished the first side, and it’s ready to bend. I have it down to about 2.7mm running down to 2.0 towards the end, just on the treble side. The guy reckons this helps with the tight bend for the cut out, so I’m not sure if I’ll get the other side done this week. I have committed myself to helping with music until Saturday. I’ll see. cheers HEC
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So all I need is a couple of safety features, and off I go again. This will and has reduced the time taken to sand these parts down
And please don’t try this at home. I have worked with lathes and industrial machinery all my life, and still warn people to respect any kind off machine cheers HEC
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I love the updates on this build. Been i while since ive had a workshop, so getting my project hit, and making tools for the job hit here!
Really enjoying reading about it
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Thank you, Nik. I am just about ready to add a bit more. I am back on track now, so hopefully all is good
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So, as promised, the new replacement back came a lot better than the first stuff I got, and I get to keep the first damaged stuff, so maybe I’ll get a couple of ukuleles out of that on a later day. as you can see I have gave it a first dressing joined the two halves and cut the back out ready to start sanding down to about 2.5mm, at the moment it is about 4.5mm, in between doing that I will start to bend the sides this week I have them both sanded to 2.5 mm. So let’s hope the bending goes well, cheers HEC
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Beautiful!
Is that black walnut? Its going to look stunning.
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@nikohmr, it is supposed to be American walnut, but not sure about black. But it is very nice, Nik, but it doesn’t taste good, and I wore a mask and used extraction, and the garage door was open. Only one thing for it now, pint of John Smith’s or a Guinness 
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That is a very nice pattern to the wood for your back. It is going to be a beautiful guitar. The project is coming along nicely despite the small mishaps along the way.
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I used to make hand made cutlery, remember power sanding walnut down, really not good in the mouth and nose.
I beleave American walnut is anouther name for black walnut. Its beautiful stuff. Will look incredible with the finish on it
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Having several times experienced dust colds from working with hardwoods, particularly oak and cherry, I long ago started using a respirator when sawing or sanding certain hardwoods. Sometimes a paper mask is not enough to keep your sinuses from drying out and laying you low for a few days, but at least it’s better than nothing. I find that if I can taste it, I need more protection.
Anyhow, that’s lovely grain, and I look forward to further updates and seeing the finished product.
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Lovely looking wood Hec.
My father used to wood turn - and do a little carpentry too. He had to give it up due to the dust affecting his sinuses sadly.
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