At long last, the bridges are attached, the tuners are on and the bone nuts and saddles are under construction. With a little luck I should get at least one of these tenors strung up tomorrow.
The Peghed tuners are threaded into the wood and secured with a drop of glue. The barrel of the tuner is tapered and so you must have a properly tapered augur to match.
the rubber band around the barrel is to give me purchase as I screw the tuner into the hole. The tuner actually makes tiny threads in the wood and you need plenty of purchase.
the rubber band around the barrel is to give me purchase as I screw the tuner into the hole. The tuner actually makes tiny threads in the wood and you need plenty of purchase.
Auguring in. Be cautious and check frequently. You don't want this hole too large.
All three have their tuners and bridges, Now for the Buffalo bone.
Those rough, round buffalo leg bones are first cut on the bandsaw to a "flat as possible" shape. Then with the aid of my new low tech bone holder I am able to sand these hunks of bone into the right shape and thickness.
this simple device keeps your fingers away from that fast moving sand-paper.
the shaping continues with jewelers saw and file. Here is a nut being shaped
An early fitting. The nut fits tight in its groove, but it is too wide still, and too high. Note the pencil mark showing the string height. That is done with a flattened half pencil resting on the frets.
