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Building a Box Cello

7K views 29 replies 9 participants last post by  Dave10 
#1 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
 

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#2 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
Looking good so far.
 

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#3 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
Looking good so far.

- Oldtool
Thank you!
 

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#4 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
Never heard of a box cello before, but I guess I'll get to see one soon. Thanks for showing us the build, Dave!
 

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#5 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
Never heard of a box cello before, but I guess I'll get to see one soon. Thanks for showing us the build, Dave!

- Dave Polaschek
I'm putting the accessories on it today. Then I'll test it out in the shop before bringing it home.

This is perhaps the best article about such a creature as I'm building: (link)
 

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#6 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
Thanks for the article. I figured the shape, but didn't know it was also designed to be taken apart and put together quickly.

I've been pondering a stick dulcimer myself, but it's down the to-do list a fair amount, and my shop won't be done for another few weeks at best… At the moment, all I can do is ponder.
 

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#7 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
Thanks for the article. I figured the shape, but didn't know it was also designed to be taken apart and put together quickly.

I've been pondering a stick dulcimer myself, but it's down the to-do list a fair amount, and my shop won't be done for another few weeks at best… At the moment, all I can do is ponder.

- Dave Polaschek
This one doesn't disassermble, but it is a box. Next I'm thinking of building a teardrop fiddle.
 

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#8 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
bit small for a cello is it not?



Sadly we all may end up here!
 

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#9 ·
Building the box

I should have the project post up in a week or so. In the meantime here's the process of the build.

Gluing up a few boards to make the back. These are actually poplar drawer fronts.

Wood Wood stain Creative arts Hardwood Plank


Putting the box together. The sides are poplar drawer sides (I think.) The two narrow ends are oak.

Wood Natural material Wood stain Insect Beehive


Gluing the back onto the box.

Musical instrument Musical instrument accessory Wood Engineering Art
bit small for a cello is it not?



Sadly we all may end up here!

- robscastle
Rob,

Not for a box cello. It's as deep and tall as a full size cello. I made it only as wide as the width at the C bouts. If it were wider, and kept as a box, there would be difficulty bowing the strings properly.
 

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#10 ·
End blocks and bass bar

Installing the end blocks to support the end pin and the neck.

Wood Hardwood Automotive design Wood stain Flooring


Installing the bass bar. I made the clamps some time ago. It was gratifying to actually use them.

Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Outdoor bench


Planing away some of the bass bar to lighten it and make it look nice.

Wood Natural material Fashion accessory Soil Metal
 

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#12 ·
Holes and pin

Cutting the F or sound holes.

Musical instrument String instrument Wood Guitar accessory Guitar


Wood Table Rectangle Drawer Wood stain


Fitting the end pin.

Wood Wood stain Rectangle Hardwood Gas
Okay, this is cool. You'll have to post a short video or sound clip. I'm interested in seing what it sounds like when you're' done.
Years ago, when I made guitars more, I made a stand up bass in the shape of a standare acoustic guitar. It was a bit muffled but it worked.
 

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#18 ·
Neck and scroll

I ordered a cello neck from a seller in China. After two and a half months it still hadn't arrived, so I broke down and carved one myself.

Wood Bench Outdoor furniture Lumber Outdoor bench


Wood Lumber Hardwood Engineering Machine


Wood Musical instrument Road surface Gas Motor vehicle


I will say that white oak is a splintery wood to carve.
That's a ton a shaping but will be well worth the effort when done, me thinks.
 

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#20 ·
Fingerboard and nut

I did not make this fingerboard, though I have made a cello fingerboard in the past. This one looks to be mahogany. I scraped the black paint off of it and treated it with boiled linseed oil. It looks great.

I glued it to the neck for final fitting.

Musical instrument String instrument Guitar accessory Wood String instrument accessory


Then i glued a cherry nut blank onto the end and roughed out the nut. These both get removed for final finishing if the instrument.

Hand tool Wood Tool Composite material Hardwood


Wood Automotive tire Natural material Chair Hardwood
 

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#21 ·
Fingerboard and nut

I did not make this fingerboard, though I have made a cello fingerboard in the past. This one looks to be mahogany. I scraped the black paint off of it and treated it with boiled linseed oil. It looks great.

I glued it to the neck for final fitting.

Musical instrument String instrument Guitar accessory Wood String instrument accessory


Then i glued a cherry nut blank onto the end and roughed out the nut. These both get removed for final finishing if the instrument.

Hand tool Wood Tool Composite material Hardwood


Wood Automotive tire Natural material Chair Hardwood
Intersting project, newer heard about a box cello. Did you make it up yourself and where did you find inspiration?
Looking forward to learn how it is to play!
 

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#25 ·
Pegs and waiting for finish

I reamed the pegbox for the tuning pegs.

Hand tool Wood Tool Metalworking hand tool Metal


And removed the fingerboard and nut and took it home for the finish.

Handle Door Wood Wood stain Floor


Up next is the project post whict is right here (link)
I am looking forward to the project post.
Thank you for sharing your process !
 

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