one of our compatriates here at BT, offered me a chance to make some new base’s for some fluted colums..well, nothinf goes as planned of course.
Seems that the plinth was the only thing holding the staves together…
after getting all the glazing putty and caulk outta the joints, the whole she bang came unglued..mee too.
With enough clamps and straps, I just might get em back in one piece.
The new plinths will be the wonderful wood from David Doud…this stuff is incredible…brown ash. looks like chestnut, works like buttah…now if they’d not paint it all…
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Replies
You need more clamps.
duane...... i like to cut up rubber roofing ( or old truck tire inner tubes ).... strips about 1.5 " wide ... long as you can..
a couple wraps and a tuck and you've got tons of clamping pressure... real cheap too...
did i say " nice work " ?
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
OOOH an old fashioned "CLAMP OFF"
who can post a picture using the most clamps.
I'm scared just thinking about it.
gk
who can post a picture using the most clamps.
Did somebody say Wetzler? (Thanks, Jon- great clamps!) Here's maybe a quarter of mine.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
i think i remember one of stan's shots in his stair shop... with lots & lots of clamps..
you got a good runner-up thoughMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
you got a good runner-up though
Geez, mine was only 4' wide. How about clamps/ft? <G>PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Yeah!
Its definately gonna between stan and armin for the Gold!!
Stan probably wears out that many clamps a month!Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
Stan probably wears out that many clamps a month!
Only if he's using Jorgensens. Wetzlers are amazing.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
funny you mention that..I make wooden snoflake X mas decorations, and they are 6 diamonds about 3/4 x 3/4 milled with grooves and such..I roll em up and clamp with innertube strips, when dry, I slice em like lunch meat on the Band Saw..Didn't even think of that for these colums.
Thanks
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Sphere,
Not sure if you ever heard of this company
http://www.wetzler.com/
View Image
But many years ago when I lived back East I used to make all the patterns for their clamps.
Pretty sure I did the one on their home page. I even remember making a short run of lite weight aluminum deep throat's for clamping the bridges on acoustic guitars. Ever seen 'um?
Pretty popular still.
Jon
Edited 8/29/2004 4:23 pm ET by WorkshopJon
hear of em? Hell, I got a bunch of em...good clamps. I also have 3 of those bridge clamps..real handy for that job, almost impossible without em.
If my 12 string Ovation ever needs bridge work, I am hosed..no such thing as a 4'' sound hole, it has 22 little ones, all at the upper bout.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
"I also have 3 of those bridge clamps"
Sphere,
Honestly,
If it was the first run, I probably made them back in the late seventies. I did the pattern work and machining. J & J foundry( in LIC also) did the casting, and Wetzler the final assembly. First run was something like 200 units.
If my 12 string Ovation ever needs bridge work, I am hosed..no such thing as a 4'' sound hole, it has 22 little ones, all at the upper bout.
Any tool you can think up can always be made.
Jon
Edited 8/29/2004 4:34 pm ET by WorkshopJon
...so you are/were a patternmaker?....now there's an art! Cheers,PHil.If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.
"so you are/were a patternmaker?....now there's an art!"
Philter,
I still do some from time to time. The very large stuff is still done by hand. Everything else CAD and CNC. I work for this company.
http://www.jppattern.com
We're pretty high tech, and focus on close tolerance, custom made mechanical componentry and tooling. I pretty much do everything.
An other link about what we do:
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/apr04/219102.asp
WSJ
Cool, what kind of CAD, kind of looks like Solidworks-ish....If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.
"what kind of CAD, kind of looks like Solidworks-ish...."
Philter,
Unigraphics NX2
http://www.ugs.com Originally developed by McDonald Douglas. Just about the most advanced CAD/CAM/CAE on the planet.
How do you know about SolidWorks? It's pretty popular out here as an entry level CAD platform.
WSJ
Hey Jon, this is what I mean..
now buddy, if you can make a bridge clamp..we gotta talk.
seriously....lemme know
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
How do they set the bridge in the factory?
Jon Blakemore
I visited Kaman's shop back in '89..vacuum prevailed, also in Martin's shop they still had "Go Sticks" for the "oldies" in fer repair..bridge clamps are a blessing, I have done the "go sticks" and car jacks to the basement cieling..lbut a good clamp saves a LOT of grey hair.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
46897.22 in reply to 46897.20
now buddy, if you can make a bridge clamp..we gotta talk."
Sphere,
I presume you mean the one on the left? Not impossible, but why would you ever have to replace a bridge? Most likely way would be either a clamping mechanism that passes through the bridge with a (later) plugged set of holes, or an removable internal support underneath and inside, and clamp the whole thing from the outside.
Jon
Edited 9/1/2004 6:25 pm ET by WorkshopJon
Jon, Bridges on 12 strings are about as bad as it gets, they can, and do, "lift" when the glue creeps, or pulls the sound board fibres up.
Ovation has a good rep. of avoiding this problem, and the bridge is pinned well to the "bridge plate" inside, under the sound board. Those too, often need replacing, when the ball ends of strings wear the holes larger. Again, Ovation (Kaman instruments) has solved that with the pass thru bridge, and eliminated the usual pegs.
Yes, there are "screw jacks" that can be inserted in the body , through the acess hole in the back, then clamp with "go sticks" to a cieling or a box made just for the sticks.
I hope I don't have to do mine..I can charge a customer..can't bill myself, my check would bounce...lol.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Yes, there are "screw jacks" that can be inserted in the body , through the acess hole in the back, then clamp with "go sticks" to a cieling or a box made just for the sticks.
Ever use rare earth magnets? They'll do an amazingly good job of clamping, just gotta watch your fingers so you don't lose any skin.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
LOL, they ARE dangerous, I have a few stuck on my TS..never tried it for a clamp, but I imagine they'd do a heck of a job.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Ever use rare earth magnets? They'll do an amazingly good job of clamping, just gotta watch your fingers so you don't lose any skin"
VA,
Actually, very good idea I think. We have a Milwaukee electromagnetic drill at work. Great for drilling lifting holes in dies that are a PITA to hoist onto a CNC and set-up. Seriously when you think about it, an electromagnetic clamp probably would do the trick.
Sphere????
Jon
Seriously when you think about it, an electromagnetic clamp probably would do the trick.
You could get even more clamping pressure that way.
But for luthier work, the rare earth magnets are sufficient. This isn't something I dreamed up. Learned it from a luthier, who would have little trouble fixing Dinosaur's problems. Unfortunately, neither Richmond Ky nor central Va are in his neighborhood.
That wasn't a joke about losing skin to the magnets. You do have to be careful, particularly when placing them back in storage. My buddy has a special wooden tool he uses for that.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Bro--
The bridge on my Guild 12-string has been cracked for nigh-on 25 years. I keep hoping she'll keep on hanging on and not let go completely....
I took the harmonic strings off her a while back and play her like a 6; easier on my old fingers too since I don't play often enough anymore. Every once in a while I string her up full and play a bit just to hear that whole fat sound, though....Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
I dont know diddly about gitars
but it seems to me that a block of 2x4 and some drywallscrews would fix you right up!Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
lookin good, at least ya got most of the pegs in the right holes..lol. IIRC the "G" oughta be in the peg hole closest to the tail. I'd have to see the saddle to be sure. Most 12's have the octaves first, except for the "G" "g" . Also make sure ya have the right tuners selected and the nut notches...but you knew that.
Try dropping her down to "D'' "G" "C" "F" "A" "D"...easier on the guitars structure, and your hands..if ya ABSOLUTLY need to be up one whole step, buy a capo and capo at the first, it also shortens up the fret spacing "just" enough to make some of those BIG STRETCH barr chords a bit easier.
Good guitar there, watch that bridge.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Edited 9/2/2004 7:28 am ET by SPHERE
I always string the octave g first so I get that nice high 'ping' when I come down with the thumb pick. Kinda my playing style trademark, LOL.
I hear ya on lowering the strings one step. I've been gradually doing that over the years to keep up (down?) with my voice--keeps getting deeper and deeper after all th' whisky 'n' terbaccy....
If things continue this way, one of these days I'm gonna become Tom Waits, get rich and famous, and sue myself for imitating me....
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
Sphere-
What is it about the G 3rd string. Seems if you pick up a guitar and one of the strings is out of tune, more often than not it's going to be the G.
Seems it's been that way all my life. Or is that blantent imagination at work again?
"Hey, check the G!" be dead on or that quarter inch is going to haunt you
Don't know nuttin about getars, but seen some mighty fine G strings in my day!
Restringing G-strings, dirty work, but somebody's gotta do it......cover me, I'm going in!
WRT Gunner.....Who dares ,wins.
Cheers,Phil.If it is to be.... 'twil be done by me.
easy, the g has the highest tension to achieve pitch (at A=440)
Look at a "compensated" bridge, on a Bass or flloyd rose tremolo..the G is usually the longest string length as well, this is for intonation. A true octave at the 12th fret, requires the strings vibrational length to be exactly halved, thats why the string has to be a bit longer, cus the tension is greater. A lighter guage string, ( like the octave on a 12) will not need as much compensation as the standard voice string (at concert pitch).
On my 12's an Ovation, a Fender, and an old Vox, I use a .009 or .008 for the G octave..less then 30 cents ( cent=1/100 of a step) and snap..they break REAL easy. And for that reason, I string mine opposite of Dinosaur, if I come down too hard on it they break too soon, where as on an up pick, or swipe, I mostly am playing a little softer.
Remind me to explain why the note "B" often sounds kinda odd..it's a complicated story..but suffice to say that before Bach set the standard to A=400...there was an additional note..yup.."H"..BAch wrote the "well tempered Clavier" and pretty much set the standard as we know it today..
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
When I fiddle with their G-string they always hit that high note!!Mr T
Happiness is a cold wet nose
Life is is never to busy to stop and pet the Doggies!!
I prefer mine with NO strings attached..ever pull a tampon? It's NOT like starting a lawnmower..lol
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Is that semi an Ibanez? Like it?
Washburn...HB-35 a copy of Gibsons, 335 HB...twin humbuckers, a GREAT bridge, binding all around..list was 1400.00 in 89...I got it for free, in'90..being a rep.
Can ya say "if I was black, I'd be Lucille" lol, he played the first Lucy as a Gibson, then went to Ibanez...Lucy 1 got stole. Gibson gave up the patent..the rest is her-story..
Washburn makes some real sweet git-fiddles, don't be suprised to see a lot of "old timers" wailin on them..they are good guitars, mando's and bass'es....some, that is. Ya gotta shop.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Nice axe. I'd been wanting a 335-ish semi for years(since the late 70's, that Larry Carelton thing y'know), but had never really persued it much. They were just to far out of my range($$$).
Check this thing out I found on the web;
If you have a surgical supply near you, surgical tubing works real good.
good point.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Duane
If you cant find enough inner tube material you can use the plastic wrap, shrink wrap, I use it on column or round work all the time, works great.
I think you can buy it at the big box stores.
Doug, I got a roll of that!!! I use it to band moulding for transport...DUH. I ferget what it's actually called..but it's on a handle...good thinkin ...thanks
FLAT TWINE!!! that's it..cool stuff
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I dont know how man lived before flat twine, must of been like the dark ages!
knowin how ya love to open pics..here are some from todays foray of what happens when router bits dot com send the wrong bit, and Greencu want's his damn posts ( er Colums) like soon.
I went thru my pile of bits looking for a 3/4 dia. corebox, (which I ordered, and got a totally different animal, for 60 bucks) and found a COVE bit with a pilot..Hmmm? I cut off the pilot, I only have a few HSS bits, but love to mess with them ( they are easy to modify, for what ya want) and ground one wing a little (RCH) smaller..for a better cut..kinda like a raker, but not too much for a balance problem.
Any who, I tablesawed a depth groove, then whacked a few old 2x4 together for a jig..I should mention here, my lathe is still in NC...5 hrs away..oooops
So with gritted teeth, and a fair supply of Michelob..I commenced the groovy kinda love to the circular replacement plinth constituents...
Now I know, y'all gonna see the bisquits getting exposed..get over it, it's all painted..like the photo of the orig...lots a paint..what a shame..pretty wood it is.
The donut one in the pic is Chestnut, the coved hunk is Brown Ash..( thanks agin DDOUD)...enjoy
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Sphere
I worked at a shop in Iowa that had all the equipment that we needed, and if we didnt have it and needed it, we got it.
Now I work at a shop down here in TX that is so lacking in equipment that it stupifies me! But we get to do some great things.
The point is, some time you got to improvise, especially when forced to! Nice idea, I always like what people do outside of the box.
Doug
well..Doug..yer a mentor...I do Appreciate yer attitude as well..
Sometimes I gotta say to me.."what would "THEY" do" hahaha
fer real..thanks for being alive..it pays.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I have about 20 3/4 " corebox bits . Do you need them in a hurry ? how many? Email me
Don
20? wow..I am done now, but thanks a bunch..ok, mebbe one..
[email protected]
I'll pay ya..going rate,if it's usable (1/2'' shank?).....
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
All 1.2" shank I was going to put 3/4 " flutes on flat limestone collumns . Started with 1/2 " core box and liked it so I quit there. Only used eight of the 1/2 s Send an address.
check your EMAIL..might fall into a spam thing..coming at ya
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.