Griffin Ukuleles
  • Home
  • About
  • Woods
  • Available Instruments
  • Construction
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • testimonials
  • Ukulele Stuff
  • Untitled

YOU THOUGHT MAKING THE ROSETTE WAS EASY

9/5/2015

1 Comment

 
Spalted maple rosettes are kind of my signature feature on most of my tenors.  I spent the majority of the afternoon in the workshop making rosettes for the next three tenors.  Here is how it is done.
Picture
The raw material is tiger striped maple that has spalted (begun to decay).  It gets these wonderful designs and colorations.  If you get it quick enough before the decay has gone too far, it is wonderfully decorative wood.
 I cut strips of this interesting wood as the first step.  I will show you some more to illustrate the amazing variety that salting creates.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Now those strips that I cut on the bandsaw are passed through this little sawing device and I cut them into little beveled pieces.  I separate the pieces with really interesting features so I can distribute them evenly through the rosette.
Picture
Now the individual pieces are set in place around a previously drawn circle on a piece of scrap spruce.  They are glued down with super glue.  Each piece is selected for its role in the circle.  The best side is placed down, because it will ultimately be what shows on the ukulele.
Picture
So here is the result of an afternoons work.  Three rosettes in crude form.  Tune in tomorrow and I will show you the rest of the story,  or at least some of the rest of the story.
Picture
And  of course, this is the goal,  A rosette that has interest and beauty and that blends with the wood tones of the rest of the instrument.  I typically frame the rosette with Black/white/black purfling.  It is a great use for this "almost wasted wood".
1 Comment
Barbara Ryan
9/5/2015 10:24:20 pm

Those images of maple are artworks in themselves. Where do you find such glorious wood? Do you need a band saw to cut them?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.