THE SANDING IS OVER, I have rubbed on a couple of "spit coats" of shellac and alcohol in preparation for the pore filling with pumace and alcohol. When the finish hits the sanded wood all the problems emerge. any little dings show up, un-sanded glue marks reveal themselves. There is always a bit of cosmetic work to be done just after the finish process begins. This time I was not pleased with the heel piece where it joined the body. The solution came to me last night late, cut that ebony heel plate off and make another the width of the binder. This morning I put that lovely uke in the parrot vise and cut off the thinner heal plate, cut the heel down a bit and fitted on another piece of ebony- Wow! I feel so much better, that bad joint would have bothered me forever.
A luthier friend of mine told me one day, " there are no mistakes, there are only good fixes"
A luthier friend of mine told me one day, " there are no mistakes, there are only good fixes"
Here is the uke on the operating table. The new ebony heel plate is now glued on and in clamps. A little shaping a little sanding and we will be back in business ready to apply the French Polish. And look at that Mastergrade Koa back. Oh my ! this is going to be a pretty instrument.
I thought you might enjoy seeing the Australian Blackwood binding on "The Blonde" This is going to be a very pretty uke and I knew the finish would make this binder pop. This is what it looks like with just one coat of shellac rubbed on, Just wait until all those coats have been applied, I think it will be "Knockout"
