Official Luthiers Forum!

I know I'm stating the obvious here but no good ever comes from me rushing.

I've seen this a couple of times recently:

I was in a hurry to test clamp the fretboard to the neck and dented the back of the neck.
I was in a hurry to tape off the headstock when I prepared to shoot some finish. When I peeled off the tape later it took the headstock decal with it (even though it had a couple coats of finish over it.)

Last night I had just shot the amber of a sunburst and it was time to quit. I didn't have much time left and thought, "Oh, I'll just shoot a second coat of amber quick before quitting for the night". The finish wasn't ready for a second coat yet and I goofed up the finish. Now I'll likely have to sand back and start again.

Ugh... I know I learn from my mistakes but I already KNEW this. I didn't need to learn this one again. But apparently I DID need to learn it again.

Anyone want to share similar tales of woe from rushing when you know you should slow down or quit for the day?

I'll do stupid things when rushing like forgetting to take something out of the sound box before closing it that is impossible to fit through the sound hole

I feel your pain, Linus.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I have a large sign over my 38in woodmaster No sanding after 7pm don/task why?

If I were to list all the times I've done a bad job by rushing I'd be here all night. So I'll have to rush this post too...

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

I am the master of this.

I've learned that the only thing you should 'just quickly do' before days end, is tidy up.

Except lots of parts for ukes.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I read your story earlier and took it to heart.
Took it carefully, didn't rush and worked methodically.
Got everything finished perfectly.
Thanks

Now, how do explain dinner being late to my wife when she gets home from work?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Colin I've thought long and hard your best bet is run


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Surely 95% of my mistakes occur because I'm either in a rush and/or I thought I didn't need to check my notes and skipped a step.
Colin, contrary to Lonnie, I would recommend you not run, unless you're planning on never coming back. Maybe she'd like dinner out?

I was in luck - she was late. Phew!

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Nope, don't know anything about that. Now excuse me while I go start the fire with some very expensive and exotic kindling.

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George :-)

Take it from me: It is usually better to drill the string holes on a tie-block bridge before you glue it on. Always double the collet for tightness before routing a rosette or binding. do a dry run and double check your go-bar deck height before applying glue when glueing on a top or back. There are a couple other things that I learned the hard way, but I am too embarassed to mention them. I only made these boo-boos once. Pals, Vic.

It just wouldn't be any fun not to have to cut out a neck on a neck thru bass, as I was in a hurry to route the sides of the neck and slipped with the router. Ditto the expensive kindling, LOL.

.....one's a sophomore, and the other just finished her master's......

Agree, when i see myself starting to make mistakes I leave what i am doing and get out of the shop.

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

Ditto on that, Greg. When the mistakes start, the first thing that's damaged is the workpiece. I'm afraid that, if I keep it up, the next thing that will be damaged is me.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

Never heard of this before. With the help of the internet I am now a bit more educated.

mistakes from rushing? Well just now I was placing the bridge on a ukulele I had nearly finished. Things did not look right, dang I have fret markers on the 10th and the 13 fret location ... Oh well fret board is coming off. I did not think I was rushing ...

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Went into the shop last night to trim the sides down on a Sapele, Manzer wedge, 00. I marked it, cut it, admired it... and realized I'd cut it for a lefty player!

Linings, and the back, she'd have been ready for bindings.

The good news... I've always wanted to know if my glue joints were solid. They are! I stressed the braces to failure, and either the top wood failed, or the brace broke. It never failed at the glue joint.

I got something positive our of it. Cheers, M

One more sad lefty missing out somewhere (unless it was a cutaway of course).

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Linus, Yes. Nice thread that is funny and oh so true for me. I've had issue with all five of my guitars because of rushing - wanting to see the next step before it's ready. Tony

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Tony Flippo