linings...

My bending technique does not give the perfect Ukulele shape (whatever that is), but has enabled me to create guitar like forms. One must wonder how the first guitars were made. Were the sides soaked and bent to whatever form the wood would take and hold?

Most luthiers use a bending iron that heats the wood at various point allowing them to gradually tweak the shape to final form.

As you can see, I'm in the process of adding what most luthiers call "lining. "The thin strips are kerfed through many closely spaced cuts on the band saw. They are flexible and can be glued to the sides so that they in turn, present sufficient surface area for the top and back to be glued on. Common wooden clothes pins work well as clamps to hold lining in place as the glue dries.

Once the lining is glued in place, the whole front and back can be sanded flush using a flat board covered in self-adhesive sandpaper.


With the sides of the ukuleles formed and lined, I'll turn my attention to attaching necks to the other box guitars I'm making, and will also take some time to organize some of the photos I've taken so far. Then the actual writing will begin.

The interesting thing about writing is that it is easier if you've given yourself something real to write about.

Make, fix, create, and extend to others the love of learning likewise.