This Week in Wood

OOPS! Missing Parts

When building a guitar from the ground up, you need to build a neck. A neck blank is usually 30″ long. This is so that you can create an angled head on the guitar for the tuners (it usually angles down about 15 degrees from the fretboard side). Even after you use some for the [...]

Post from: This Week in Wood (c)2009 Glenn Thompson. For Downloads, Pictures, and other great content go to This Week in Wood. See This Week in Wood Legal Information Page for specific usage rights.

OOPS! Missing Parts

Differences – Guitar 1 vs Guitar 2

I thought I would briefly talk about the differences between my first guitar project and my next project. My first project was based on a kit from US Guitar Kits which makes a decent selection of ready to build guitar kits made from good quality solid wood tops and good quality plywood sides and back. [...]

Guitar #2 – Wood and Supplies Arrive!

I just received and unpacked the wood (and various other supplies) for my second guitar. As you can see, I am using a spruce top with maple sides and back and neck. I’m using ebony for the fretboard and some access via purfling to contrast the light maple color. I’ve also got some bloodwood for [...]

Transitions – New Project Ahead

My normal pattern between projects are usually minor shop improvements, simple adjustments, and sometimes even bigger projects like shop furniture. As I wait for the wood for my next project (remember, I’m going to tackle my 2nd guitar), I thought about what has worked and what hasn’t. My first project was a hack improvement. By [...]

Luthier Tools

I’ve been planning (after finishing my first attempt at guitar building) to build a second one. In parallel, I’ve been putting together the tools that I would need along with the wood that I will need for the 2nd guitar. I’ve been getting the tools from a few different sources. I’ve gotten a FesTool trim [...]

This post is a test

I’m testing out some blogging software and want to see how it works. Here is an image: Post from: This Week in Wood (c)2009 Glenn Thompson. For Downloads, Pictures, and other great content go to This Week in Wood. See This Week in Wood Legal Information Page for specific usage rights.This post is a test

Standing Laptop Desk – Finished

After a lot of work, I have finished my Standing Laptop Desk. My intended purpose was to house my laptop for use when playing, learning, improving my guitar playing. While installing, I was actually able to reduce the furniture load in that corner of our living room (well, it’s more of a music room than [...]

Sloped Laptop Stand

When using my laptop stand, I like to have it tilted. Right now I use the elegant solution of a couple of packages of post-it notes. Since, I’m nearing completion of my new Standing Laptop Desk for use with my music gear, I figured to create a more fitting laptop stand. I used a few [...]

Unwanted Detour

OK, I started out the day doing some pore filling on my desk (see previous post). All went well but drying time was making me wish I had something to do and then…I remembered that Kathy wanted me to look at our fan in our shower. I did and took it apart and cleaned it [...]

Back to the desk (Standing Laptop Desk)

While I was working on the guitar (see previous post), I’ve had a nearly completed desk in my shop. It’s been quite handing with having another surface to place tools, work items and such on. However, it’s been nagging at me to get it done. Well, this week I was able to get BACK TO [...]

Guitar Finished

OK,it’s been almost 2 months but I’ve finished my guitar. It all started off when I enrolled in Woodcraft’s Guitar Building Class. Woodcraft partners with US Guitars. US Guitar’s kits are simple but complete. The back and sides are a thin plywood. The sides are pre-bent and already attached to the back. The back and [...]

Guitar Building – Last Class

The last class was simple but somewhat time consuming. We had several things to do. Fit the saddle into the bridge. Fit nut between headstock and fretboard. Attach machines to headstock. Drill out holes for string in bridge. Attach strings. Readjust saddle and nut (raise height, lower height – in my case, I raised the nut [...]

OMG – French Polish is amazing!

OK, I’ve spent the last week putting many coats of shellac on my guitar project. These have all been base coats. French Polishing the guitar is rather tedious but not very strenuous. Each coat is super thin so it takes a lot to get a good cover over the wood. After about 15 coats, the [...]

French Polish, My midway point

OK, I’ve been progressing on my french polishing work. Each coat doesn’t take very long or really much work at all. The problem is it needs a zillion coats (ok, maybe closer to 12-18) and you have to wait a few hours between each coat. I’ve progressed up to 7 coats. My approach has me [...]

Finish Update

I finished the epoxy pore filler. From a texture point of view, I believe I have accomplished the job. From a color point of view, I have an uneven tone. I need to explore pore filling more though I’m not sure I have the time to do it on this guitar. The neck and headstock [...]