[Above] On the reverse of the sound board piece, I measured out and cut the gap that will help the sound from the fingerboard travel into the sound box. I drilled holes at each end, leaving a ‘bridge’ in the middle for strength and cut it out with my jig saw. This area is hidden by the finger board, so I’m not concerned about blowout.
[Above] Then I marked for the sound holes. I drilled two round holes in the upper half and traced out and cut two birds in flight on the lower half. At least I hope they look like birds in flight. At this point I’ve also temporarily attached the sound board to the box with two countersunk screws.
[Above] With the top temporarily attached, I used a flush trim bit to even up the top and bottom with the sides. The picture above was not taken after a blow out and a brilliant repair to the top—really it isn’t. Nothing to see here.
[Above] After sanding the top, I’ve located and put tape to show where to glue the fingerboard. I weighted it down with socket wrench sets and a tin can of ‘misc. hardware items’.
[Above] While the glue was drying I added my labels and maker’s mark so that they will be visible through the sound holes.
[Above] And finally I glue the sound board to the body. And I discovered that all my spool clamps are like 1/4 inch too short! On the bright side, that meands that this dulcimer is deeper than my first, so it should have a different sound. (Like have 4 strings instead of 3 and being a different shape and made of different wood wouldn’t cause that!)
That just leaves sanding, finishing and stringing her up. ...And the case!
-- Ni faru ion el ligno!
9 comments so far
Oldtool
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3149 posts in 3157 days
#1 posted 11-20-2016 12:37 PM
Looking real good, nice work.
-- "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln
CFrye
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11143 posts in 2806 days
#2 posted 11-20-2016 12:58 PM
Dave, I know only what I’m learning here about musical instruments. Does the inside have any finish on it?
-- God bless, Candy
Dave Rutan
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2008 posts in 3155 days
#3 posted 11-20-2016 01:06 PM
No finish on the inside. I can’t say what guitar makers do, but I don’t think even violins get finish on the inside being as they are lacquered after assembly.
-- Ni faru ion el ligno!
Patrick Jaromin
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412 posts in 4799 days
#4 posted 11-20-2016 04:36 PM
Same with guitars – no finish on the inside.
-- Patrick, Chicago, IL http://www.TenonAndSpline.com/blog
CFrye
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11143 posts in 2806 days
#5 posted 11-20-2016 05:38 PM
...and the reason for that?
-- God bless, Candy
Dave Rutan
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2008 posts in 3155 days
#6 posted 11-20-2016 05:46 PM
I’m thinking it has to do with inaccessibility to the interior and/or the ease of repairs if the inner surface has no finish on it.
Occasionally I watch videos about lutherie/instrument repairs. It’s basically a branch of woodworking.
-- Ni faru ion el ligno!
helluvawreck
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32122 posts in 3833 days
#7 posted 11-20-2016 07:47 PM
This dulcimer is coming along nicely.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
Woodknack
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13541 posts in 3347 days
#8 posted 11-21-2016 08:09 AM
Coming along nicely Dave.
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
bhuvi
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97 posts in 1508 days
#9 posted 12-01-2016 02:13 PM
-- Do NOT click links. Spammer in the process of being removed.
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