Bargeloob's ST-1M

[wokkaboy]

yeah Bargey, we want to see at least 10 pages of the thread when the kit arrives !

[bargeloobs]

yeah Bargey, we want to see at least 10 pages of the thread when the kit arrives !

@Wokks, Stan, Unfortunately I can't post too much more until the kit get's here as I've set up a tent out by the mailbox, waiting for the postie to arrive and I haven't got any internet out there:-(

[wokkaboy]

haha classic comments Barge, I know the feeling waiting for a kit that you can't wait for !
Hopefully tomoz Barge. Have you got the flame maple cap ? You should be able to cut out the shape very carefully with a sharp blade I reckon, then sand it when it gets close to the cavity edges. I glued a veneer to a uke kit and had to cut out the soundhole and managed to carefully do it and sand near the edges

[bargeloobs]

You should be able to cut out the shape very carefully with a sharp blade I reckon, then sand it when it gets close to the cavity edges. I glued a veneer to a uke kit and had to cut out the soundhole and managed to carefully do it and sand near the edges

Naa veneer's not even here yet, but great idea Wokks, like you say as long as the shapes is within a bulls roar, then i can just finish it off with sandpaper. How would the Dremmel go with a sanding wheel you reckon? Just have it putting along slowly.

[wokkaboy]

yeah the dremel may work Barge but you risk tearing the thin veneer, you may have success with this method. Before you glue the veneer I'd trace the body shape and with a pencil shade a piece of paper and try and mark out the rough shape of the cavity, so you have an idea where the edge of the cavity will be, and include the tremelo cavity. Then sticky tape the cavity shape paper to the other piece of paper to the body shape in rough position so you have an idea.
Once you get a good size hole in the veneer it will be much clearer where the edges are.
I'm guessing the veneer wouldn't be cheap so you don't want to stuff it up. Also make sure you get even pressure when gluing the veneer. My uke veneer got some glue lumps where there wasn't enough pressure on it.
So we're up to page 4 bro, keep er rolling ! haha

[wokkaboy]

are you planning to cut the rounded edge off the body and modify the body shapes first Barge before you glue the veneer on ? makes sense to me

[bargeloobs]

yeah the dremel may work Barge but you risk tearing the thin veneer, you may have success with this method. Before you glue the veneer I'd trace the body shape and with a pencil shade a piece of paper and try and mark out the rough shape of the cavity, so you have an idea where the edge of the cavity will be, and include the tremelo cavity. Then sticky tape the cavity shape paper to the other piece of paper to the body shape in rough position so you have an idea.
Once you get a good size hole in the veneer it will be much clearer where the edges are.
I'm guessing the veneer wouldn't be cheap so you don't want to stuff it up. Also make sure you get even pressure when gluing the veneer. My uke veneer got some glue lumps where there wasn't enough pressure on it.
So we're up to page 4 bro, keep er rolling ! haha

Yeah righto, roger that man I'll definitely do that!! What's the best way to get even pressure over the whole top so as to get a nice flat result?
Btw I just bought a set of 8 new clamps today but they won't be here until middle of next week anyway so I won't be sticking it down until they arrive.

Hehehe, 4 pages in and not piece of sawdust or a wood chip to be seen:-)

[bargeloobs]

are you planning to cut the rounded edge off the body and modify the body shapes first Barge before you glue the veneer on ? makes sense to me

Yep, that was the plan Wokks, that way when I trim the veneer it's going to be the final shape rather than mucking round trying to cut bits off after it's glued down. I know from the Bladecatcher those Maple veneers are super hard and chip really easily so less playing round with it the better.

[wokkaboy]

I'm no expert at gluing larger veneers on, like body sized, but I'd find 2 flat pieces of timber at least 15mm thick, a little larger than the body shape, one for above and one for below the body, and put as many clamps around the edge as possible. In hindsight I'd even put a few pavers in the centre resting ontop for added pressure in the centre. I used this method on the uke but didn't have pressure in the middle of the wood jigs, so thats where it went wrong.
Maybe Gavmiester has a better way

[bargeloobs]

I'm no expert at gluing larger veneers on, like body sized, but I'd find 2 flat pieces of timber at least 15mm thick, a little larger than the body shape, one for above and one for below the body, and put as many clamps around the edge as possible. In hindsight I'd even put a few pavers in the centre resting ontop for added pressure in the centre. I used this method on the uke but didn't have pressure in the middle of the wood jigs, so thats where it went wrong.
Maybe Gavmiester has a better way

All good man, like I say it won't be happening this week so we'll see if anyone else out there has some other ideas, cheers for the handy tips anyway Wokks:-) Can always count on you for some top notch advice!!