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  #76  
Old 03-10-2023, 12:47 PM
Naboz Naboz is offline
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So, proud papa, you're nurturing that wood as it matures into a full-blown guitar and then marry it off to some player!
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  #77  
Old 03-11-2023, 09:05 AM
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So, proud papa, you're nurturing that wood as it matures into a full-blown guitar and then marry it off to some player!
Yeah, that about sums it up

M
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  #78  
Old 03-16-2023, 06:42 AM
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Default Scraper Mania

I work hard to keep my shop organized. It's an ongoing job because my building processes, techniques, tools and skills are constantly changing and growing. I have no final goal in this other than continual improvement.

Being organized keeps the shop out of my way.

This morning I'm reorganizing my scrapers:



I typically use scrapers for two things: clean up and finishing wood surfaces:

Clean-up is normally scraping off glue squeeze-out and leveling wood. Good scrapers and techniques are the best for clean-up. This is because I can work cool, fast, quietly, accurately, with minimal saw dust, and minimal glue and sawdust left clogging up pores in the wood surfaces.

For finishing wood surfaces scrapers are second best. Now second best isn't bad. It is better than hand sanding and way better than power sanding.
Hand planing is the best way to finish a wood surface.
By finish I mean prepare the wood for whatever finish I'm planning to put on (if any).

The problem is hand planing isn't always a good option. Certain figured woods don't finish well under a plane. Also, I can't get a hand plane down into some places like the inside waist of the sides.

Currently, I am working on my tools and techniques to improve what I can do finishing wood with scrapers. Second place doesn't mean there is no room for improvement.

An area I am concentrating on right now is burnishers:



Burnishers are typically a metal bar that is rubbed on the leveled, squared, cleaned, polished scraper edge to create the tiny cutting hook that scrapes the wood. The more even and clean I can create that hook, the cleaner and more even it will finish the wood surface.

I'm experimenting with hard ceramic, triangular and cobalt burnishers and seeing good results.
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Last edited by Mark Hatcher; 03-16-2023 at 07:03 AM.
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  #79  
Old 03-16-2023, 08:51 AM
Treenewt Treenewt is offline
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That is quite the setup of scrapers/burnishers! I really enjoy when you share your processes and thoughts on your tools. Super helpful!
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  #80  
Old 03-16-2023, 12:02 PM
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I am always pleased when builders use HAND tools.

It just seems so very appropriate to me. And QUIET, too.

Thanks for sharing this cool info with us mere mortals…

Enjoy the process

Paul
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  #81  
Old 03-17-2023, 06:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Treenewt View Post
That is quite the setup of scrapers/burnishers! I really enjoy when you share your processes and thoughts on your tools. Super helpful!
Thanks for following along Treenewt

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Originally Posted by Guitars44me View Post
I am always pleased when builders use HAND tools.

It just seems so very appropriate to me. And QUIET, too.

Thanks for sharing this cool info with us mere mortals…

Enjoy the process

Paul
You’re welcome Paul. Hand tools do seem more appropriate and in many instances they will contribute to making a better guitar.

M
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  #82  
Old 03-28-2023, 07:29 AM
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Default Wild Black Cherry Burl Forage

Last year I posted about this large Wild Black Cherry burl I foraged from my back woods:



I re-sawed and stickered it to dry and the burl wood is just now ready to start working. My first foray was this logo chip for a recently started Greta:





I have some pretty long slices from this big burl and burl wood is considerably harder than the regular wood cuts so this opens a lot of opportunities to explore
such as fretboards:





I think it will also make wonderful binding:



I'm excited to have all the great quality woods I need on my own property to make a complete guitar!

m
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  #83  
Old 03-28-2023, 07:45 AM
rule18 rule18 is offline
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Nice, but I still can't get past the "blob" on the bench. LOL! I was wondering what that chip was for that recently started Greta.
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  #84  
Old 03-28-2023, 08:04 AM
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That is a beautiful burl and from your own back yard to boot!
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  #85  
Old 03-28-2023, 08:05 AM
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Nice, but I still can't get past the "blob" on the bench. LOL! I was wondering what that chip was for that recently started Greta.
Yeah that blob was a beast. It weighed 82lbs and I nicknamed it, The Troll:





m
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  #86  
Old 03-28-2023, 04:38 PM
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Originally Posted by TomB'sox View Post
That is a beautiful burl and from your own back yard to boot!
Thanks Tom!
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  #87  
Old 03-28-2023, 09:09 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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82 lb! That is bigger than I'd imagined, a very large burl in my limit3d experience.
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  #88  
Old 03-29-2023, 06:07 AM
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That burl is gorgeous, Mark. I really like burl rosettes and accents, and that stuff is perfect. Thanks also for the hand tool reflections. My card scrapers are among my favorite tools. I’m always trying to improve my scraper sharpening skills. Thanks, Dave
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  #89  
Old 03-30-2023, 05:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks View Post
82 lb! That is bigger than I'd imagined, a very large burl in my limit3d experience.
It is a good size. It lost about 15lbs of water in the drying process.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carpinteria View Post
That burl is gorgeous, Mark. I really like burl rosettes and accents, and that stuff is perfect. Thanks also for the hand tool reflections. My card scrapers are among my favorite tools. I’m always trying to improve my scraper sharpening skills. Thanks, Dave
Thanks Carpinteria. Sharpening skills are a worthy constant pursuit in any wood shop. A good sharp hand tool is the difference between pleasure and drudgery

Mark
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  #90  
Old 03-30-2023, 07:45 AM
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Cool stuff. I love that you grabbed the burl off of your property.

I will say it again, your shop is waaaaay too clean for me,
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