I used one of these and a small sharp chisel
Sorta worked, next time I might make or buy a gramil
Sorta worked, next time I might make or buy a gramil
F-5 Style Mandolin build.
- Thread starter 1bad914
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I will probably work on a form of a gramil before I dive into the hand work. I think I have an old Luther’s tool book that shows how to make one.
…and it begins. Just one small section. Solid hour into that part, and I am not done with it. It takes patience. I am using a caliper, razor blades and a bunch of different small chisels and wood carving tools. This is going to take awhile. 
The two points are susceptible to damage, they stick out into nowhere. The solution it to install bone points to protect them. I thought I had enough scrap bone to do this…nope! I had to sacrifice a perfectly good saddle blank.
Cut them close, glue them on and then use the oss to dial them in. I used ca to glue them on.
Cut them close, glue them on and then use the oss to dial them in. I used ca to glue them on.
Brings back memories.
Maybe nightmares.
Things were going well, so I kept on going. I am finding it easier to install the binding, then after it has dried 
I install the purfling. Trying to wrestle all of it at one time is not very easy. Plus I can adjust the purfling gap as needed. The point joint came out better than expected.
Moldy Oldy
Tele-Holic
Way to go. It’s turning out awesome.
RickyRicardo
Friend of Leo's
Wow!
Amazing work again. You have the patience of a saint.
I now see why Gibson finished most of these in a dark to light fade, easy to hide your mistakes. 
I am still going back and forth on the finish. I am leaning towards the black base with a red over color, maybe with a black to red burst. Hrrrm. I will work on that soon, oh wait, I still need to carve the groove for the headstock binding, arrrggghhh.
this is not an easy build, but it is rewarding when you accomplish a difficult task in the build. Will I do another one, probably, maybe some different materials. Something non-standard.
I am still going back and forth on the finish. I am leaning towards the black base with a red over color, maybe with a black to red burst. Hrrrm. I will work on that soon, oh wait, I still need to carve the groove for the headstock binding, arrrggghhh.
this is not an easy build, but it is rewarding when you accomplish a difficult task in the build. Will I do another one, probably, maybe some different materials. Something non-standard.
Did you look at the James Condino link? He does a lot of pretty wild finishes on his manodos (green 'bursts and so on) but he also does a lot that are based on on the traditional Cremona brust which is what I put on mine. There is so much tradition with these critters that it just seems like they should have a traditional finish.
I did look at that site. Beautiful instruments. The traditional will actually be easier, but I still may do something different.
All that you can see on that scroll was hand cut with a combination of razor blades, small chisels and files. Still need to clean it up before bending the binding and installing it. I am using a heat gun to warm up the binding, then bending it over whatever I can find with the correct radius. Test fit, adjust, fit, adjust, rinse and repeat. 
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The binding on the body is done. I have leveled it all and started to sand it all, but I need to install binding and purfling on the headstock. I wish i would have documented my hours. My guess is that I will have close to 200 hours into this.
I have a lot of sanding and scraping to do.
I have a lot of sanding and scraping to do.
