TODAY I got a nice ebony binder around the top of the Big Bass and also made the critical decision about the angle of the neck. It is really beginning to shape up.
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First I set up the laminate trimmer (small router) and cut the channel for the ebony binder. This is always a little scary but it went very well.
Next I brought out the heat blanket and set it over a rounded form (pinecone form) and put a bit of a bend into the ebony binding. It might have bent fine without the heat treatment but I chose caution.
Next I brought out the heat blanket and set it over a rounded form (pinecone form) and put a bit of a bend into the ebony binding. It might have bent fine without the heat treatment but I chose caution.
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I made this little device to attach to the instrument as a guide for the router. Just a couple of scraps of wood and a clamp but it worked perfectly. I was thus able to route the channel for a back strip. This will cover the unsightly gap where I did not get the sides to meet perfectly. The photo on the right shows the ebony bindings that I would soon be bending
Here is the body with binding glued up and held tightly in place with this special binding tape. It really holds it tight in the groove. I took it off after a couple of hours and the binding looks great.
Then I turned to the question of attaching the neck. After looking at photos of cellos and bass viols I made the decision. Sawed what I hoped was the the proper angle on the bandsaw and then sanded down the front of the body a bit to create a flat place to glue the neck in place.
I lightly screwed together the neck and body to see what it was going to look like. I will most likely attach the neck tomorrow using three large screws and epoxy. But for now, for tonight- this is what it looks like.
Then I turned to the question of attaching the neck. After looking at photos of cellos and bass viols I made the decision. Sawed what I hoped was the the proper angle on the bandsaw and then sanded down the front of the body a bit to create a flat place to glue the neck in place.
I lightly screwed together the neck and body to see what it was going to look like. I will most likely attach the neck tomorrow using three large screws and epoxy. But for now, for tonight- this is what it looks like.
