Im not worried about the virus in my workshop, this is for sawdust protection and hearing, I spent a lot of time today running wood through the thickness sander.
Notice how thick this side piece is. I put 60 grit paper on the sanding drum to grind it down fast. I will put 120 grit on to finish to final thickness.
I have just sawn these six sides to their proper shape, now to the sander to thin the down.
All of this lovely East Indian Rosewood has been sanded thin enough to now change to 120 grit and reduce to their final thinkness. I simply change the sanding belt in the machine for the final thinning.
Now, with the 120 grit paper in the machine, I have reduced the three soundboards to their final thickness of .090, they are ready now for the tone bars and patches. Each one of them tap toned wonderfully, they will make rich sounding instruments.
First the tone bar locations are plotted out, and then the bridge patch is glued on. Not only is each tone bar glued to this, but the string holes will penetrate it and their knots will pull against the hardwood patch.
But fear not Gary and Sandy, between all this work I am putting successive coatings of French Polish on your ukuleles. They are beginning to get some shine. I like to bring them upstairs each evening to go over them closely. Another ten days and they ought to be done.
