I was deprived of the opportunity to take any shop classes all the way through Jr. High and as a freshman in high school. The classes were always full, probably mostly kids who hated being there and have never picked up a tool since. Finally,. when I was a sophomore in high school, I was able to get into my one and only shop class - metal shop. We learned the rudiments of drafting, how to work with sheet metal, riveting, soldering, brazing, a little light welding. One of the projects I made - in fact, the first project that the whole class had to make - was a toolbox, which I still have. Machine shop, where you got to use a lathe and mill, was separate, and I could never fit it into my schedule, so I never got formal training in that. I've since learned a few small things on my own. Anyway, I put some of this knowledge to work when I make tailpieces and other metal parts for my banjos and other instruments. This weekend, I completed a brass tailpiece for my walkabout dulcimer. I also cut a nut from a piece of Corian I had around, and started the bridge. By the way, I'm going to try some of Jerry Rabun's (xnavyguy's) ideas and build the bridge from pine, with the grain vertical, and an ebony cap. I expect to have the whole project complete by Wednesday night when I take it to our local luthier's group for stringing and setup.
1 comment
on “Metal Work, bridge work”
Jonnycake White Says:
Thursday, October 9, 2008 @8:29:28 AM
I strung and set up the Nutcase Dulcimer last night, I'll post pictures and maybe a sound file soon.
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'Kluson Cam tuners' 3 hrs
'Saddle picks ' 5 hrs
'Singing Birds' 7 hrs
