Teachers desk makes the ideal workstation
Making bridge blanks with cross vice
Main Shop Space
Cutting red coral on a curve for rosette inlay
Good dust control is vital
Black Acacia rounds. These will be cut up with a chainsaw into manageable pieces before slicing into backs and sides
Bending iron made from steel pipe and electric barbecue charcoal starter.
I found a silver acacia log in a roadside ditch. After cutting into it I liked it so much I went back with my chainsaw and got the rest of the tree.
Wicking thin CA glue into rosette.
Debarking black acacia rounds. If you don’t take the bark off it will kill your bandsaw blades
Sanding and planing station. I don’t use the planer much for building ukuleles.
Three necks awaiting lacquer
Sealing the ends with Anchor Seal to keep it from checking. It’s best to cut many of the woods into thin sets as soon as possible.
Measuring Top Deflection
We builders end up making a lot of our own tools. This is temperature controller I made for side bending.
Radius sanding disk. Put it over the center of iron pipe at left and give it a spin.
Red Coral Blanks for future inlays.
Glueing End Blocks To Sides
Preparing To Cut The Rosette and Rosette Channel at the same time
Final Setting of Frets With Press
Simple Jig For Compound Radius Fretboards
Shop Made Bending Iron with Precise Temp Control
Sides in The Bender with Metal Slats and Heating Blanket
Installing kerfed linings.
Glueing Top To Sides With GoBar Deck
Starting Frets With Brass Hammer
Wet Sanding Headstock Prior To Buffing
All Original Artwork and Photographs © Copyright 2016 Michael F Smith All rights reserved
