Frets fitted, position markers marked out (should have done this before i fitted the frets... makes life a lot easier but not having an organised workshop has thrown me somewhat) and tuning pegs marked out... next for some drilling.
In my old wooden cabin up in the hills of south east London I make banjos, canjos, cigarbox guitars and other things that go twang. Every instrument is fully hand made in the traditional way with a minimal use of power tools and usually using reclaimed timber (that way i can use exotic hard woods and sleep well at night). So if you are interested in buying a high quality unique instrument keep checking here or contact me if you would like to commission something. flatfootjohnny@hotmail.com
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Tin Uke #2
Frets fitted, position markers marked out (should have done this before i fitted the frets... makes life a lot easier but not having an organised workshop has thrown me somewhat) and tuning pegs marked out... next for some drilling.
As you can see i have resorted to the floor of the tiny spare room... but hey at least its warm.
Frets fitted, position markers marked out (should have done this before i fitted the frets... makes life a lot easier but not having an organised workshop has thrown me somewhat) and tuning pegs marked out... next for some drilling.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
I currently have 4 commissions on the go here are some of them in progress. Luckily the good folks that have commissioned these instruments are happy to wait a while due to the fact that i dont have a workshop at the moment. I was however measuring up this morning and getting down to the business of designing my new one.
Pauls 3 Stringer CBG
Calvins tin tennor uke
Nicks mountain banjo
Sunday, 20 January 2013
New year new workshop
The title says it all. Ive just moved house so that means ive lost my cellar... my new house doesnt have a cellar so i have to build a workshop in my garden. This unfortunately means i wont be able to make any new work for a while (its only been a couple of weeks and im getting twitchy already!), i am however finishing of three current commissions (i'll be doing this in my freezing cold loft space). update pictures to follow.
here are some inspirational pictures of my future workshop (in my dreams) i especially love the Fujimori stuff!!
here are some inspirational pictures of my future workshop (in my dreams) i especially love the Fujimori stuff!!
Monday, 5 November 2012
The latest from the cellar.
The result of all that leaf spring cutting and log splitting are a bunch of childrens rattles all made from plum wood from my garden and coated with Danish oil (non-toxic and child friendly). They were turned when the wood was green and have been slowly drying out in my cellar... they all have individual sounds... not just for children but they make great little percussive shakers too. You can take them to your local jam session and annoy everyone :-)
They come in various sizes and im selling them for £25 each. Including U.K. postage.
Im also making a couple of extra cute coffee can soprano ukes using these lovely old coffee tins.
They will be for sale for £200.
Im also about to start on a tin can tenor uke and a 3string CBG with some extra fancy carving... providing i don't cock it up... below are pictures of the beginnings of the CBG
The result of all that leaf spring cutting and log splitting are a bunch of childrens rattles all made from plum wood from my garden and coated with Danish oil (non-toxic and child friendly). They were turned when the wood was green and have been slowly drying out in my cellar... they all have individual sounds... not just for children but they make great little percussive shakers too. You can take them to your local jam session and annoy everyone :-)
Im also making a couple of extra cute coffee can soprano ukes using these lovely old coffee tins.
They will be for sale for £200.
Im also about to start on a tin can tenor uke and a 3string CBG with some extra fancy carving... providing i don't cock it up... below are pictures of the beginnings of the CBG
Vintage box awaiting repair
Fretboard being laminated
Mahogany neck with maple centre strip and Peghead overlay being laminated
Sunday, 7 October 2012
cast bronze bracket shoes
Just had my first set of cast bronze bracket shoes made. I made the original out of wood then got 20 cast by a local bronze caster.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
splitting and turning
Ive been learning some new wood working skills over the past few days. After the plum tree in our back garden was pruned i had a go at turning the pieces. First i had to split the logs. For that I needed a froe which I couldn't find on eBay or other tool sites (to be honest i didn't look very hard) so i decided to make my own.
First i got an old truck leaf spring... good high carbon spring steel.
Then cut it keping the bush ends... these will be for the handle. The bushes were burnt out using a blow torch.
I then ground down one edge. The first attempt was not so good as the angle was not acute enough.
This is better... easier for the froe to cut into the wood.
I made a handle from some ash then split my first log. Fairly hard work but worth it. The wood splits following the grain therefore releasing its own natural tension and avoiding grain run-off. The halfs were split into quaters then cut in half and used for turning the babies rattle below.
First i got an old truck leaf spring... good high carbon spring steel.
Then cut it keping the bush ends... these will be for the handle. The bushes were burnt out using a blow torch.
I then ground down one edge. The first attempt was not so good as the angle was not acute enough.
This is better... easier for the froe to cut into the wood.
I made a handle from some ash then split my first log. Fairly hard work but worth it. The wood splits following the grain therefore releasing its own natural tension and avoiding grain run-off. The halfs were split into quaters then cut in half and used for turning the babies rattle below.
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