The Pinecone bodies are all shaped and sanded, ready for the finishing touches
One of those touches is adding a hardwood heel cap. I prepare for that with this big file that not only makes a flattened surface on the head of the body, but flattens the heel of the neck to accept the heal cap properly. This just takes a few minutes for each uke. Carving the heel cap will take longer.
Here is a sanded body in finished form
I rubbed a coat of shellac on the spruce tops to prevent soiling during the rest of the building process. Next big project is to cut fretboards from a chunk of Honduran Rosewood and prepare it for the frets. These ukes are coming along really nicely and none of them are committed yet. If you want a really nice travel uke give me a call or an email.
The tenors are beginning to shine! Left to right, Claro Walnut, Brazilian Rosewood, Cocobolo- all with Redwood tops from that New York City water tank.
Another view- wow! look at the reflection in that Cocobolo
