AT LAST, With the help of the good folks at T.N. Curran, the local Apple store, I got my computer accepting photos from my iPhone again-so here is a bit of catch-up for you
Last sunday I drove south to Skagit County to attend a fun event, a "Fun Raiser" put on by Kathleen Wollf and her Anacortes ukulele pals. It was a benefit ukulele jam for the old Rexville Grange. It was held in an antique stone quarry just behind the grange, a natural amphitheater with a level grass floor. The local Shakespeare group produces Shakespearian drama there. It was lots of fun, I took my bass and had a great time thumping away accompanying the uses. Should have taken more pictures but I was too busy playing. Here are the "Delights", an Anacortes group that play and sing truly delightfully. Kathleen is on the left. Two of these ladies were playing Griffin Concert Pinecone Ukes. A couple of days later I got a visit from this pleasant gent that I had met at the "fun Raiser". He left a down payment on one of the tenors that I am presently building. The Juniper top with tiger stripe maple sides and a truly unique maple back. He selected the Honduran Rosewood fretboard. Thanks Danny. Those tenors are now all committed. Then Tuesday evening after dinner I went to the weekly jam at Fairhaven Village Green. I was playing my bass. This little girl was fascinated by the instrument, standing beside me for the longest time, until I invited her to pluck a string. She just could not get enough of that strange big instrument. |
Meanwhile, back in the workshop it was time to make the dreaded cuts that threaten to rip your uke apart. Time to cut the slots for the binding and purfling. Here the laminate cutter is making the cut on the Cumuru wood.
I use my ratchet lever holder to make sure the uke will not be moving as I cut the slots with the router Once the binding and purfling slots are cut you must prepare the uke to accept them at the neck. This involves a little sawing and carving to get a nice rounded curve for the eventual end cap. | I will be putting white/black/white purfling on this this redwood top uke and so I must cut a second thinner and smaller slot for the purfling. It can be a little tough to get the binding in tight and close at the waist of the uke, so I devised this little jig with blocks shaped to the waist and capable to be pressed in with the clamp seen. I had one reluctant binding and this device subdued it. |
So finally we are ready to apply the glue and get the binding on. first you must prepare with the sticky tape seen ready on the right. Once you get the glue on you want to move fast. This tape works remarkably well holding the binding and purfling tight while the glue dries.
Tomorrow the story will continue. stay tuned.
Tomorrow the story will continue. stay tuned.