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| Best/Worst part of building http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=9745 |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:24 pm ] |
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I've seen many posts lately which has someone saying "...........is my most favorite part of building" "...........is my least favorite part of building" So..... What are your most enjoyable etc and least enjoyable etc parts of building and why. Maybe we can spark some good responses to help with some of the least enjoyable "tasks" Personally, my most favorite is neck shaping and making the bridge, I also really enjoy binding (I know, I'm crazy) Least favorite (till I made my new bender) was side and binding bending. Now I'd have to say gluing in the linings, I should really get me some of John's cool clamps, but I'm too cheap. There's more I'm sure, but I thought that I would start with this. Anyone else..... |
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| Author: | JJ Donohue [ Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:34 pm ] |
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Least enjoyable...binding operations. Hopefully the Williams jig will make this less tense. Most enjoyable...Bridge, Neck and brace carving as well as anything dealing with the plane. I find these operations relaxing and peaceful. Sharp blades are a joy to use. |
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| Author: | RCoates [ Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:43 pm ] |
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Carving braces and voicing the top is by far my favorite. Least favorite is everything including and between pore filling and buffing AKA the finishing process. I've been shaping necks with my table top belt sander, but I just got a full complement of spokeshaves tuned up and ready to go so there could be a contender for either title I suppose. |
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| Author: | Alain Desforges [ Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:44 pm ] |
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Hey Rod, great thread... Favorites : For sure is stringing her up for the first time... Building wise, shaping the braces and the neck is a lot of fun. I like taking my time and sanding the body with a good block (veritas by Lee Valley), I find this very relaxing. Least enjoyable: binding, finishing, crowning frets and pore filling. |
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| Author: | Daniel M [ Sat Dec 09, 2006 8:24 pm ] |
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Pore filling used to be my least favorite, but since trying out catylized polyurethane I just don't fuss it any more. I really enjoy laying on finish with a well set up gun. Otherwise my current faves are planning a new style instrument, brace carving & anything to do with a sharp scraper. (I love my scrapers) |
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| Author: | Cecil [ Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:55 pm ] |
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No least, no most. I enjoy every step of the process. Cecil |
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| Author: | GregG [ Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:58 pm ] |
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My least favorite is glue clean-up, it bugs the heck out of me to have any glue residue left after attaching something, and sometimes it's a real pain to get it all. I'm also not real fond of hand sanding anything, wears me out. Favorite-- tuning the plates, getting the box in 1 piece, and stringing-er-up for the first time. Greg |
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| Author: | Steve Kinnaird [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:10 am ] |
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Favorite--carving the neck. Most hated--fitting the neck to the body! (Something happens to me in that short interlude....) Steve |
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| Author: | Marc [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:21 am ] |
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Most --- Bending Least --- Centering and positioning the bridge |
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| Author: | Tom Armstrong [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:29 am ] |
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Most - Anticipating and planning. For the actual building, I'd say bracing the plates and carving the braces. Least - Anything to do with CA glue. I've recently devloped a sensitvity to it and it puts me out of commision the day following. I'm going to have to put it away and go to other gluing methods. I'll also throw in adjusting and re-adjusting, and then re-adjusting again, the neckset. |
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| Author: | Jon L. Nixon [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:33 am ] |
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Favorite- seeing that distinctive rectangular-shaped box on my front porch when I come home; taking it inside and hearing the russle of the packing peanuts as I caress, tap and smell the contents. Least favorite- realizing that whoever packed my order was a newbie who thought "A" was best, "AAAA" worst.... 
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| Author: | burbank [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 1:54 am ] |
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Least favorite: neck angle adjustments, stabbing myself with jewelers saw blades 
Most favorite: Building finish with FP, cutting side purfling miters at butt wedge, splitting spruce billets and cutting into braces, and shaping of top braces (I'm not advanced enough yet to call it voicing!) And stringing one up for the first time, of course! |
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| Author: | TonyKarol [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:22 am ] |
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well since no one has mentioned it .. creating and putting in the rosette .. always starts to make the guitar have its own character. Selecting which braz headplate to put on too .. again a character thing. Least - finishing .. always so close, and then you rub thru somewhere, usually on the headstock for me ...back to the booth. |
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:42 am ] |
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I love it all |
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| Author: | Dave Anderson [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:46 am ] |
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Most favorites- voicing the top,carving braces laying down a nice finish(nitro).I do enjoy it all! Least favorite- hmmmmm? I guess ,Making a bonehead mistake 
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| Author: | Anthony Z [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:54 am ] |
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This is from an Archtop builders perspective. Favorite: 1. Planning/Design and purchasing tonewood and other materials; 2. Brace carving; 3. Neck carving (relaxing); 4. Inlay – design, cutting, routing inlay pockets, engraving; 5. Final extra fine buffing; 6. Stringing ‘er up for the first time; 7. Hanging out on the OLF. Least Favorite: 1. Cleaning up the shavings from taking a 1” laminated billet down to ?” for each of the plates; 2. Binding the body and “f” holes; 3. Fitting the “X” braces (not a simple radius); 4. Carving the headstock/neck transistion and getting the backstrapping to look right; 5. Sanding the cutaway on an assembled body; 6. Bending Cutaways (the dreaded “ker snap”); 7. Neck alignment (I use a dovetail joint – thank goodness for Tracy’s jig); 8. Flushing the neck cheek with the body – i.e. flossing; 9. Any operation involving a router especially a table router (bad memories – nerve wracking); 10. Wet sanding; 11. Making and finishing the truss rod cover (after the rest of the guitar is finished…lol) |
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| Author: | MaxBishop [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 2:56 am ] |
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Thought I'd my 2 cents from the nylon string perspective (albeit from a relative newbie): Most Favorite: Carving the neck. Next: Finishing - I do french polish and love the gradual evolution to a (hopefully) glistening result. Absolute Least Favorite: Like many of you, doing bindings. Although my stress has been greatly reduced by using the ledge cutting tool from Chris Klumper. Perhaps you are aware of this great tool. If not, check www.luthiertool.com. Regards, Max |
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| Author: | old man [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:02 am ] |
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Favorites: Carving the neck Closing the box Closing the case! Least favorite: Finishing (but I'm learning) Ron |
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| Author: | James Orr [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:01 am ] |
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My most favorite is the conceptualizing. I just finished voicing my top and liked that a good bit as well. I could do without leveling finish. And if I'm being honest, writing on the top. I know I only get one shot, and I know just how non-attractive both my handwriting and signature are. If I could draw, I'd just sketch something. |
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| Author: | jhowell [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:43 am ] |
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I most enjoy carving the bracing. My least enjoyable task (and most frightening) is routing the binding channels. Definately a high adrenaline, sweaty palm thing for me. 
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| Author: | Mattia Valente [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:16 am ] |
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Faves: planning, dreaming, designing, neck carving, bending, anything involving a sharp edge (hand) tool, brace carving, neck carving, volute carving, just the general woodwork. Least faves: binding, the entire finishing process, fretting, setup. |
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| Author: | John How [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:26 am ] |
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Most favorite: Starting a new one 
Least favorite: Finishing what I've started
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| Author: | Pwoolson [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:57 am ] |
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For me the all time favorite is cutting and fitting my end graft. It's hard but it's also a great challenge that I love overcoming. Like others I don't really have a least favorite, as I really love doing everything I do. But if I were forced to decide, I think it would be crowning frets. Oh, and changing paper on my general sander. What a bugger that is. Only to get gummed up on the first pass by a particurally nasty piece of Zircote. ARRRRG! |
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| Author: | K.O. [ Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:37 am ] |
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Favorites everything, would send my inst. out for finish though, no skill there yet other than tru oil. Being here seeing many wonderful instruments CRAFTED. Least favorite Being here seeing many wonderful Instruments and knowing that they are meant for other relationships. |
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