Saved a UKE!

Kitchen Guitars · #1 08-01-2015, 06:21 PM

I found this all Mahogany 1960’s? Uke at a Flea Market. Newish in case with its “face” smashed in. I guess the first song played on it was not very nice….Wait a minute, yea it was Pete Townsend’s when he was 8 years old. Yea! That’s the ticket!

I tried a few times. Glue, press, unpress. wet glue, pull out pieces.

Too many angles and edges to match all wood up. Also 2 of the ladder braces were smashed out of place.

Hmm spare parts...

There was no way within my skills to patch the top.
So.....

Plan B
Super glue smooth the top. Paint the top. Sound port on the side.
Flat sanding as i find time. I'll let you know as I go.

Outhouse · #2 08-01-2015, 08:01 PM

Good work.

I love saving ones no one else will touch.

mirwa · #3 08-01-2015, 08:23 PM

I am kind of surprised you did not just change the top,

Steve

Kitchen Guitars · #4 08-02-2015, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirwa

I am kind of surprised you did not just change the top,

Steve

I didn't want to deal with steaming the neck, fixing the fretboard from steaming the neck. Then matching up to the binding. I'll save that workflow for a 1930's Martin!

mirwa · #5 08-02-2015, 10:19 PM

Fair enough, to me it would be far quicker to change the top and just clear coat it,

Kitchen Guitars · #6 08-09-2015, 10:56 AM

Progress in the garden. The Uke is doing better than did the Cukes.

Got it down to level. I could see 2 spots that needed work. After adding the primer I found many more spots that need final touch up. I'll use Z-Poxy for the final fill.

After adding the primer I found many more spots that need final touch up. I'll use Z-Poxy for the final fill.

Kitchen Guitars · #7 08-10-2015, 09:04 PM

The Zpoxy is so much more workable than the Super Glue (Rockler Medium).
Zpoxy is made to sand.
I got the surface smooth, put on a coat of primer. Sanded, Semi Gloss White, dry, sand. Just did coat 2 of Enamel Gloss White. Gonna let it rest 2 days. Sand 400 then spray white again.
Dry, sand....
Then onto Gloss spray

Scootch · #8 08-10-2015, 09:34 PM

Fool! Ukuleles are like banjos... They are worth more broken than fixed.

Kitchen Guitars · #9 08-12-2015, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scootch

Fool! Ukuleles are like banjos... They are worth more broken than fixed.

Ukes are higher on the food chain than you think bro:
Guitars laugh at Mandolins,Mandolins laugh at Ukes, Ukes laugh at Banjos, all of them laugh at Accordions!

Kitchen Guitars · #10 08-12-2015, 01:39 PM

I found the Zpoxy so much easier to level and sand than the thick CA glue. 2 sanded coats of Primer, so far 5 coats of white. I let it sit for 2 days. Going to lightly sand 400 and if I don't burn through the white anywhere I will hit it wih 2 coats of gloss.
It looks pretty good. FAR from perfect. But good enough for a 12 year old that will practice 2 times then put it in the "corner of someday".

Kitchen Guitars · #11 08-14-2015, 07:27 PM

Progress

My daughter liked taking off the tape

Before final clean up

Kitchen Guitars · #12 08-17-2015, 07:16 PM

The white looks great. Daughter waived on the soundport, she wants to play!

starting with this...

Yep the origional finish is Varnish. Easy spruce up!
I cleaned the back, sides and neck over and over. Scrached the back and sides one time over with 400 sandpaper on a block. Two fresh coats of Shellac and she looks shiney and fairly new.

cmsmattg08 · #13 08-17-2015, 07:27 PM

Looks Great Congrats on the Successful Project!! Looking to start my first guitar project this week!!

Kitchen Guitars · #14 08-18-2015, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmsmattg08

Looks Great Congrats on the Successful Project!! Looking to start my first guitar project this week!!

What are you building? Kit? Scratch?

Kitchen Guitars · #15 08-28-2015, 06:10 AM

She played with it for 15 minutes......there it sits! Lol