HUGE PROGRESS in the shop today. First the Rosettes needed to be finished.
I drew the desired shape of the rosette on a piece of heavy water color paper and then with super glue covered the shapes with pieces of spalted maple. I could have used a piece of scrap wood as well. The ring is cut with the gasket cutter on the drill press, then turned paper side up into the groove previously cut in the top. I put the outer strip of black/white/black purfling in first, then the maple ring, then the final strip of purling on the inside. Then thin super glue is put all around. It will seep down and under the ring securing everything. After a few passes through the sander you can see the wood appearing and the paper backing being sanded away. | The glued down pieces are leveled by passing them through the thickness sander. Now they are level and ready to be cut into circles on the drill press In just a few minutes the glue has set and the rosette is ready to be leveled in the thickness sander. A few more passes and now it is really looking good. You can still see some glue stains but those will sand out |
And here is the final result, A very pretty spalted maple rosette with black/white/black purfling. Next the top is turned upside down and the back sanded until the sound hole is opened.
Here is the rosette for the Juniper top. Here I chose to use the purling only on the outer edge. I kind of like the look with this wood. I was able to finish all three rosettes, and also cut and install the cedar back supports and the back patch for the bridges
So here is the palette-
on the left the Blonde, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Englemann Spruce top, Alaska Cedar neck. Ebony fretboard, not sure about the binder.
in the center is the East Indian Rosewood with redwood top and Honduran Mahogony neck.
on the right is the Rocky Mountain Juniper top, tiger strip maple back and sides and walnut neck. Probably a Honduran Rosewood fretboard, or maybe a Pacific Yew fretboard. We will see.
These are going to be interesting ukuleles.
on the left the Blonde, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Englemann Spruce top, Alaska Cedar neck. Ebony fretboard, not sure about the binder.
in the center is the East Indian Rosewood with redwood top and Honduran Mahogony neck.
on the right is the Rocky Mountain Juniper top, tiger strip maple back and sides and walnut neck. Probably a Honduran Rosewood fretboard, or maybe a Pacific Yew fretboard. We will see.
These are going to be interesting ukuleles.