Hatcher's Studio 2022

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by j. Kinnaird

Mark how do you plan to cut a slab out of this piece of turquoise?

This is their 10" model.
Not exactly a hand tool

m

[endpin]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

...This is a small thickness planer. It has adjustable sides so I can set the thickness of long thin pieces like wood binding and side braces...

I saw those planes on sale at Bridge City Tools and hesitated getting it fearing I had no good way to hold the work flat while planing - is this a real problem?

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by endpin

I saw those planes on sale at Bridge City Tools and hesitated getting it fearing I had no good way to hold the work flat while planing - is this a real problem?

I clamp one end down and plane it, turn it around and repeat. The down pressure from the heel of the sole holds the rest of the wood strip down.

m

[Mark Hatcher]

I have my first Dryad dreadnought pretty much finish ready:

[Mark Hatcher]

Yesterday and today was mostly making and setting up brace blanks:



I average about 13 braces for the the soundboard and backs of each guitar. There are a number of processes to perform just to get the brace blanks together. These involves selecting the brace wood stock, splitting out the wood, radiusing and cutting in the cross cut profile. Then weighing and stress testing so I can rate and create matched pairs.

This all takes so long with many steps to set up for that I usually do them in large enough batches to do about four guitars. In this case I have the two dreadnoughts I am working on, a 000 spec and an up coming grand auditorium.
custom.

Here's what four guitar brace blank sets looks like:



The first group is X braces, then top sound braces and the last group is back lattice braces. Not shown are the ladder brace blanks I did which I'll use for one of the dreadnoughts and a future Woodsman 00 spec.

m

[Kenny B]

Can't wait till you start on my guitar!!! Seeing the pics lately has got my interests piqued!!

[Al Mojo]

Originally Posted by Kenny B

Can't wait till you start on my guitar!!! Seeing the pics lately has got my interests piqued!!

You and me both! And nice work, Mark!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Kenny B

Can't wait till you start on my guitar!!! Seeing the pics lately has got my interests piqued!!

Thanks Kenny B!

Originally Posted by Al Mojo

You and me both! And nice work, Mark!

Thank you Al Mojo. A lot of those braces are yours!

[Dustinfurlow]

The MD looks awesome, Mark. Hope to get the chance to hear it.

[Lkristians]

Just stunning, Mark!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Dustinfurlow

The MD looks awesome, Mark. Hope to get the chance to hear it.

Thanks Dustin, I’d like you to play this guitar. It likely won’t be ready until July though so I’ll want to send it down to you.

Originally Posted by Lkristians

Just stunning, Mark!

Thanks Larry! This dreadnought is coming together nicely. I look forward to hearing the new voice in my choir of models.

m

[Mark Hatcher]

This past weekend I put the ceiling up and more importantly the recessed lighting in the main part of my new studio:



I've delayed setting up permanent lighting until I had built a few guitars and I was sure exactly where I wanted them. They are LEDs providing very clean light economically without heat or noise!

This room is about 14' by 36'. I don't think I showed my work setting all this up.

Here is the room stripped and framed:

]

Me learning to dry wall:



First paint



Installing the floor:



Voila I have a working shop. There is still trim work and lots of small jobs but that is just how studios are, there are always changes coming (as they should!)

m

[TomB'sox]

Wow, that was quite a lot of work, I did not realize you were starting from scratch with the new place. Is this a separate building from the house? Do you have your dusty room in the room next to you?

[Guitars44me]

Work, work, WORK!!!

Very cool new shop. Congratulations. May many many fine instruments come forth….

The new dread is very appealing to me.

Have FUN

Paul

[Al Mojo]

Way to go, Mark! Your new work shop is looking great. I don't see any air vents - how will you heat and cool this space? Since I'm in Texas I had to ask