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Don't worry, it's not what you're thinking.
I happened upon a few slabs of beautifully quartersawn Western Red Cedar, and thought it would be almost criminal not to fashion them into arches.
So this morning I chopped off a chunk...
... and ripped it in half to form two bookmatched halves. Resawing thick stock is no picnic, but ultimately the cedar was no match for my big ol' Disston (aka 'Captain Badass').
I think this one will be a 17", parallel-braced, beboppin' machine.
Stay tuned!
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11-21-2015 10:07 PM
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Ooh! I am so looking forward to watching this thread evolve!
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11-22-2015, 06:49 AM #4destinytot Guest
I'm in awe.
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Another Jehu original - great! Have been very impressed with your first two. Keep us updated on progress!
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Nice. Looking forward to your progress.
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Yeah there we go again
i am just gonna sit back and enjoy
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Everybody is behind you, Jehu !
Can't wait to see it
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+1 Bob
Originally Posted by 339 in june
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Can't wait to see the natural cedar with finish on it.
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It always blows me away to watch someone do what you are doing.
incredible. Ill be following this closely.
JD
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If you were closer I'd be happy to let you use my bandsaw. Resawing with a handsaw...makes me tired just thinking about it.
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Originally Posted by Jehu
Oh, it is exactly what I am thinking! I am not "worried" though, only looking forward to follow the new developments.
Do you have a no power tool policy/challenge, or just no bandsaw available?
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Thanks for the encouragement, folks!
Jason -- You're right, resawing by hand is most certainly a workout. But ending up with one shoulder twice the size of the other does make for interesting conversation at parties.
Richard -- I do try to do as much as possible using traditional tools and techniques. I just enjoy it more. I can play my music, my place is less dusty, and I get to develop skills that are slowly being forgotten by the world. And I'm not really in any hurry.
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I just love these - In Cedar too! This should be fun!
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Very cool, Jehu. And a good way to practice mindfulness.
As a friend often says with a smile, you can make bigger mistakes much faster with power tools.
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... and you can cut your fingers off with hand tools, it just takes longer!
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Lol
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I jointed the two halves...
... and flattened the back of the resulting board as a reference face. I didn't bother with the front, as it's about to get real ugly real soon.
Then, with some stop cuts and a few judicious taps of the chisel I established the outline. This is a super-quick and easy way to do things if you have straight, clear grain lines to follow and if, like me, you are still gathering materials with which to fashion an old-school bow saw.
Ready to carve!
Ploughing away with a couple of old German scrub planes that I brought back from the dead. These bad boys have heavily cambered irons and melt through Cedar like butter.
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Woohoo!
I love this 'old school' treatment, though I am not sure luthiers have been rounding out the top plate with chisels in the last... uh... well... uh... few centuries?
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This is awesome.
Originally Posted by Jehu
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Well, the back and side situation just got interesting. (That's what she said.)
This bit of Arizona Cypress should make for some exciting carvin' and bendin'.
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Progress continues!
After moving from the planes to a bit of a clean-up with the scrapers, the top is beginning to look recognisable.
So I've started hollowing out the inside. I'm very happy that the convex scrub plane that I restored is performing exactly as I had hoped. It glides through the cedar almost effortlessly...
... taking off long, thick curls with it. (I have a feeling the back won't be quite as effortless, though!)
With the back joined, I cut the outline. Unlike on the top, the grain lines on the back are not so clean and straight, so the ol' chisel trick wasn't going to do. Luckily I recently happened on an antique bow saw that was in nice shape.
Oooo, flamey!
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So nice, Jehu !
Thanks a lot, you make us dream a lot !
You have a nice collection of old hand tools, and you sure know how to use them.
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If by any mistake you end up making a lefthanded model, I'll take it ...
Gibson Thin line Guitar Models
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