Hatcher's Studio 2020

[Mark Hatcher]

I'm getting down to the final rounds of polishing. The colors and figure are coming up wonderfully:

[Mark Hatcher]

As I am finishing up the Woodsman I have started working on a new Greta grand auditorium commission:



It will be Redwood on Claro Walnut. The Walnut will be a sister set to a Piña parlor I did a while back and will look like this:



The Redwood top will be a sister set to another Piña parlor I recently finished and will look like this:



Here are some pictures of the actual woods I am using as they are selected and joined:











Lot's more to come!
Mark

[Bill Kraus]

[QUOTE=Mark Hatcher;6300972]Yes, egg white is about 90% water and the rest is a pretty pure mix of proteins. Several coats are applied basically right out of the egg using only the outer, thinner albumen layer of the egg white.
That may sound a bit strange in our synthetic polymer world but using egg white for this kind of purpose goes back centuries. Five hundred years ago Cennino Cennini wrote an artist’s guide called The Craftsman’s Handbook: “I’ll Libro del' Arte“. Cennino teaches the use of egg white or “glair” for sealing and sizing wood panels, canvases, and paper. Using egg white was also recommended as a binder for gesso, paint pigments as well as in the final lacquer.
If you have ever admired the vibrance of color and the surface quality of art from medieval times you would have to agree the egg white works pretty well!

Thanks for asking!

Very interesting, I recall a furniture making friend many years ago talking about sealing wood with egg whites. I believe he also mentioned using egg whites as a sealer on curly woods to accentuate the curl, though I do not recall what he added to the formula, perhaps he just added a bit of stain, I'll have to check into that.
These guitars are looking great.

[cigarfan]

You sure make a schweeet Walnut Greta, I can attest to that. Looks like another on the horizon. Beautiful woods Mark!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Bill Kraus

Very interesting, I recall a furniture making friend many years ago talking about sealing wood with egg whites. I believe he also mentioned using egg whites as a sealer on curly woods to accentuate the curl, though I do not recall what he added to the formula, perhaps he just added a bit of stain, I'll have to check into that.
These guitars are looking great.

Thanks Bill!

Originally Posted by cigarfan

You sure make a schweeet Walnut Greta, I can attest to that. Looks like another on the horizon. Beautiful woods Mark!

Thanks cigarfan, Walnut is a very nice tonewood. It looks good, sounds good, and a pleasure to work with. It checks all the boxes!


I'm moving along on this new Greta. I glued on the back graft:



I'm going to do a lot of the trim in two toned Amboyna burl similar to how I did this Penelope 000:



So the first thing is the clearing a spot for my logo and installing a two toned Amboyna burl logo chip:







Then onto the rosette which will also have radial purfling made from bacon figured Padauk with is actually the same wood that Amoyna burl is:









Thanks for following!
Mark

[Nemoman]

What a great color and tonal match this pairing is--they were made for each other!

[DanR]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

The aesthetic of that guitar, in a Greta size would be the perfect guitar for me.

I love your work.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

What a great color and tonal match this pairing is--they were made for each other!

Thanks Nemoman, I was really looking forward to getting this one started!

Originally Posted by DanR

The aesthetic of that guitar, in a Greta size would be the perfect guitar for me.

I love your work.

Thank you DanR. It's a colorful and earthy look. I have three more sister back and side sets from the billets I cut for this one. I also have really loaded up on the two toned Amboyna burl. I've used a lot of different burl woods and I have to say this is one of my favorites, It's colorful and a pleasure to work with.

Another place I will be putting the Amboyna burl will be as the top laminate for the headstock. I'll be doing this design headstock:



I have some appropriately figured Amborna burl to get the two tone showing up and down on the top of the side rails:



Thanks for the comments!
Mark

[Lonzo]

Eyecandy in abundance!

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Lonzo

Eyecandy in abundance!

Thanks Lonzo!

Here we have the lattice braces going on the back:





This is the first round of braces going onto the top:



Thanks for viewing!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

We're going with my throated side port system somewhat like this one:



The throat of the side port is integrated with the heel block:



It is carved from light weight Spanish Cedar.



Here it is all coming together:











More to come!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

I've been finishing up the prep work on the sides:



Here it is pretty much ready to receive to top and back:



Thanks for viewing,
Mark

[Lonzo]

...
Here it is pretty much ready to receive to top and back:



Thanks for viewing,
Mark[/QUOTE]

A sculpture !

[Erithon]

Originally Posted by Mark Hatcher

Here it is pretty much ready to receive to top and back:



Thanks for viewing,
Mark

Very clean work, Mark! Looks fantastic. I love my 2019 Greta and I'm sure your 2020 clients will be pleased with their builds as well.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Lonzo

...
A sculpture !

Thanks Lonzo, there really is a lot of sculpting going into this, especially the heel block. There isn't any real way to draw or plan that out. It is a matter of starting with a big enough block that fits in place and then cutting away everything that isn't a throated sideport heel block.

Originally Posted by Erithon

Very clean work, Mark! Looks fantastic. I love my 2019 Greta and I'm sure your 2020 clients will be pleased with their builds as well.

Thanks for commenting Erithon. I'm very happy your Greta has worked out for you!

Mark