THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS
A big Sitka Spruce log sits in the yard ready to be cut into 22" pieces, or rounds. The log, with others of its kind has been waiting in a log pile frequently sprinkled with water to prevent drying and splitting.
Now cut, the rounds are ready to meet the boss. One at a time they are forklifted to the big hydraulic splitter
Pacific Rim Owner, Steve McMinn, reserves this crucial job for himself. Each round is spit into billets using the hydraulic ram. Steve wants to be certain sure that the precious wood is split to get the best possible yield and the best possible billet from which to saw the perfect sound board.
After many steps, including a trip through the dry kiln, the wood meets this huge laser guided band saw that cuts a 9" by 22" billet into perfect flat, quarter-sawn sound boards. The skilled eye of the sawyer assures that the sound board is perfectly quarter sawn and he guides the wood aided by the laser.
And if you thought you had a big band saw, take a look at the blade on this one.
And if you thought you had a big band saw, take a look at the blade on this one.
And it all ends up here- in the grading room where Dustin inspects each set for flaws, discoloration, tiny imperfections of any kind. It takes a special eye to make these judgements. Some of his rejects are going to end up on my ukuleles. If the flaw on one of these guitar sized boards is at one end of an otherwise perfect top I can cut the flaw off leaving a perfect ukulele top.
We make these perfect uke tops available to luthiers on our web site
HouseandMill.com at bargain prices, give us a look.
We make these perfect uke tops available to luthiers on our web site
HouseandMill.com at bargain prices, give us a look.
So thanks Steve McMinn, and Eric Warner for another great morning at the mill and for creating all that wonderful tone wood for the luthiers of America.
I will be back another day
Brian
I will be back another day
Brian