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Hi all, I've started a new blog on my website, and I'm inviting anyone who's interested to come check it out: http://www.andyculpepper.com/blog/
I've just started a Cedar/Padauk flamenca negra and I'm going to be documenting the process pretty extensively with pictures. The guitar will be for sale when finished.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
What kind of saw do you use to cut the Mosaic tiles?
Can you give more details on your gluing jig? How do the ropes get tensioned? I noticed you put cut outs in center of the cauls so it doesn't get glue on it, I thought about doing the same for some 3/4" white oak board I am edge gluing for a nightstand.
Can you give details on the scarf joint? Did you cut it on a band saw and then plane it flat?
Does your shooting board have a ramp on it so the plane blade hits the wood at an angle or is it just flat?
Thanks Andy, this is really going to be very helpful.
I think understand your gluing jig better after looking at this:
Those pieces on top act as wedges to apply tension. Most jigs I have seen use some sort of wooden wedge to apply pressure to the sides of the guitar top pieces.
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Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
My gluing jig works very similarly to the one in your link. I put the large wedge on top of the plate being joined, wrap the rope around it end to end and then drive in the smaller wedge to tighten. The notches are there mostly to stay clear of any back strip, if it happens to be thicker than the back being joined.
The scarf joint is cut on a bandsaw, using a angled jig that I run along the fence. Then I plane it in the traditional manner, and use a flat wood sanding block to get it perfectly true. I wish I had pictures of every step in the process, but that would be a LOT of pictures and sometimes I forget.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
That looks like a really nice band saw, what is it? I have a used Jet I bought off Craigslist cheap, its just ok. The teeth on that blade look really coarse for cutting tiny pieces, I'm guessing you don't like changing the blade because its a pain.
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Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
Thanks, DavRom.
Cervantes, how dare you. It's a $200 Craftsman But the table is good and flat, the fence is decent, and with bandsaws it's all about the setup anyway. It works perfectly for what I need it to do.
The blades I use take a 1mm kerf, but for me it's worth it for speed and ease.
Posts: 1708
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
I thought it looked like a nice bandsaw too! I agree it's all about the setup. I have a MiniMax that cost ten times as much but came with crude guides which I changed to Carter guides similar to what you have.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Andy Culpepper
Thanks, DavRom.
Cervantes, how dare you. It's a $200 Craftsman But the table is good and flat, the fence is decent, and with bandsaws it's all about the setup anyway. It works perfectly for what I need it to do.
The blades I use take a 1mm kerf, but for me it's worth it for speed and ease.
Would have never guessed that, maybe like Laguna or something. Looking forward to the next steps.
_____________________________
Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
I thought it looked like a nice bandsaw too! I agree it's all about the setup. I have a MiniMax that cost ten times as much but came with crude guides which I changed to Carter guides similar to what you have.
Those Carter guides look really good. I have the cheap cool blocks pain to adjust, probably less blade wobble with the Carter guides.
_____________________________
Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
Andy,
Great stuff. What springs do you use in the Go-Bars? How do you know how much force is needed? It seems some people use wedges and others do not where the sides mate to the heel. I am guessing wedges might make for a more reliable fit without having to cut a slot in the heel that is the precise width of the sides. Any down side to using wedges? I also found some people using a table saw to cut the slots:
Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
Cervantes, I'll upload a photo of the inside of one of my go-bars soon. I made them when I first started and having the spring loaded ones is pretty handy. I have 3 different lengths, one for regular fan braces and other low profile things, one for harmonic bars and back braces and one for anything in between. My workboard turns into a go-bar deck, and I set the height of the top piece to get the right pressure from the go-bars, which you kind of learn by trial and error.
You're spot on about the wedges, it's the way I've always done it and it seems easier to get a good tight fit at the heel, but the other way can work fine too.
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
OK here are the go-bar innards. I probably wouldn't have made these if my luthiery teacher hadn't advocated for it. It was time consuming but I must say I'm glad I have them. I have a total of 25. The tip parts that go into the spring were turned on a lathe.
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
And here is a new blog post! I've actually gotten further than this already. I'll make another post this weekend with photos from today and tomorrow. I have a bunch of finishing projects going on too right now.
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
Thanks Goldwinghai. I strung the guitar up today and I'm pretty thrilled with it. I'm going to get a coat or two of shellac on and then post some pictures and video.
RE: Building a Cedar/Padauk negra, a... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
Superb!
I find to be the most visually beautiful guitar of yours I've seen. I love the combination of the gold hues of a cedar soundboard against the reds of padauk (it's a combination I have myself.)
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and sometimes I forget. 
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