Stephen Strahm EROS build - Italian/Brazilian

[gerberguitars]

Originally Posted by Stephen Strahm

...and the top is braced.

Everything looks super clean Stephen! How do you like working with a vacuum clamp system versus a go bar deck? I've always wondered about the glue cleanup with the vacuum system. Do you let it tack up for a few minutes, take it out of the bag, clean up, and put it back it?

I hope it's a quick sell for you at the Guitar Gallery!

[Stephen Strahm]

Originally Posted by gerberguitars

Everything looks super clean Stephen! How do you like working with a vacuum clamp system versus a go bar deck? I've always wondered about the glue cleanup with the vacuum system. Do you let it tack up for a few minutes, take it out of the bag, clean up, and put it back it?

I hope it's a quick sell for you at the Guitar Gallery!

Thanks!

I really enjoy using the vacuum system. My table has a sealed top/lid that is hinged so I can open and close it easily. There are two valves; one release, the other on/off. This makes it fairly easy to operate. I run the table for 10 minutes then open the lid and clean the squeeze out. The glue cleans up pretty good; usually in long strips as the glue has started to tack. I use it for my back braces as well, and to lamintae my floating back brace. It took some time to work out the kinks like glue clean up and braces not seating correctly. The cauls in the photo help even out the clamping pressure so the tall braces don't lean during the gluing process. At this time my only use for a go bar deck is for gluing the floating back brace, for that it works perfectly.

[TEK]

Originally Posted by Stephen Strahm

Thank you!

So the floating back brace is a Jeff Traugott design. It's main purpose is to help the back maintain its radius across the length of the body. This keeps the back from flattening out which is one of the many factors involved with a guitar needing a neck reset.

Thanks for the explanation.

[Stephen Strahm]

All set to close the box up tomorrow.

[Stephen Strahm]

Today I got the box closed up. I've done this process over a thousand times during my time at SCGC and it never gets old.

[tadol]

Lookin' good!

[Stephen Strahm]

Well hello you! It is called EROS for a reason

[Stephen Strahm]

I use a feather board set up with my router to trim my binding to height. Cheap, fast, and easy to use.



Ebony binding bent. At .060" it bends like butter.

[Stephen Strahm]

Back cleaned up and sides sanded flat. The color in this set is beautiful and will get clearer with higher grit sanding. After this photo I epoxied the back and sides to help stabilize the wood.

[tadol]

Thats really beautiful, Stephen - from that perspective it almost looks like you've carved the box from a single block of wood -

[Stephen Strahm]

Originally Posted by tadol

Thats really beautiful, Stephen - from that perspective it almost looks like you've carved the box from a single block of wood -

Thanks! Sometimes the grain blends well together like this. I didn't see it before because the sides were darkened with resin spots but once that sanded out it all became clear.

...and yes it's a single block of wood. My hand is rendered useless, I think retirement is inevitable I'm afraid

[JJI]

I love this guitar so far. Impressive in every way.

[Stephen Strahm]

Originally Posted by JJI

I love this guitar so far. Impressive in every way.

Thanks! I feel the same. Hopefully it will continue to give love until the end

[Stephen Strahm]

Started on the binding and purfle ledges today.

[Stephen Strahm]

Top border bound.



Back border bound.