Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Make sure that you check the accuracy of the plans. I bought ALS plans a few years ago for ES 175 and 2 others (I forget which) I and found that that the drawings were not symetrical if folded along the centre line. I did a Google search and discovered that this issue had been identified and complai...

It was the old plumber who cut the hole in my tiled floor then found two pipes together!
I just employed the trusty stick trick in the hope he wouldn't bash more holes through my tiled floor.

I had a burst water pipes under the concrete floor at home recently and cut a smallish hole to find both hot and cold water supplies.
I used that stick method to determine which of the two pipes was the culprit.

I fret the 'board prior to gluing to the neck, except for 2 frets left out to accommodate locating pins.

Hi Andrew, Yes, happy to meet up post corona. I'm in Swan View. Her's my two archtops. They are both the same dimensions (16 1/4" body, 25" scale) but different woods and pickups; The sunburst one is spruce top on sheoak back & sides, maple/sheoak/maple neck with flame jarrah fretboard, Seymour Dunc...

I've built 4 Thinline Teles and also a Tele bass. Two have mahogany body cores, 6mm capped front and back with different woods; One has macassar ebony front and back, the other has a harlequin front and sheoak back. I know I have used the waist offcuts to widen the body of a couple of guitars, but c...

I use Balsa Cement; The most recent purchase was Aeroflyte C23, I think $5 for 50ml tube. I think Pacific Balsa have taken over Aeroflyte now. I buy it from model suppliers. I've used it for about 10 years now with good results.

The Hare & Forbes DS-1632 machine looks almost identical to the Carbatec one, so perhaps they'll be able to help?
Let us know if you have any success. Good luck.
I have a love/hate relationship with my Carbatec one; the motor trips very easily. But one soldiers on..............

Would it be possible to scrape & sand them flat?
How thick were the sides? I do mine at around 2.5mm.

+1 for the Jonathon Kinkead book. I built my OM (Sitka top, Sheoak back and sides, Cherry neck with sheoak fretboard) a few years ago by following that.
And Titebond Original for me too.

Steve,
I don't think your tutes are a waste of time; far from it! I learn a lot from them.

As far as I'm aware, Waverly are owned by Stewart MacDonald, so it might be worth emailing them asking for a replacement set.
I would expect a lifetime warranty on them.

Welcome to the madness!
Great effort for your first build, well done.

Hi, My wife's cousin, Greg Miller, runs an educational workshop facility, "The Joy Of Wood", at the rear of woodworking tool suppliers, Timbecon, at 31 Canvale Road, Canning Vale. I'm pretty sure he will provide bench space for you. He's a very approachable, helpful and friendly guy. You'll be able ...

Hi Joseph, I don't have any mahogany and I don't think StewMac send mahogany overseas now. But I have used WA sheoak on a few electric necks with good results, so maybe you could consider that option? It may be a little heavier though. Or you could try for Queensland maple? I've only built one acous...

I mostly use ABS plastic bindings from StewMac and I always seal my guitars with shellac prior to spraying lacquer. Never had any issues.

Where and when is the WA guitar show?

Hi Andy, and welcome. I also lean more to the electric side and have done 16 scratch builds so far; just one 'proper' acoustic, 3 resonators, and the rest are electrics, including 2 archtops. I haven't used silky oak yet but I have a couple of pieces for a future build. I used WA sheoak for the back...

Welcome Woltz,
I love Thinline Teles. I've built 4 so far, all scratch builds, all different, various hardware/electrics etc. I can't get enough of 'em.
I'll be following your progress with great interest. Might fire me up to build another!!!

After messing (literally) with crappy guns from "Supercheap Autos" I got a Star Evo (106?) mini HVLP gun. Don't remember where I bought it from, but it was an online purchase from an auto finishes supplier, possibly in Sydney. I'm happy with the gun and have used it for a few years. I have never spr...

Absolutely awesome!!!

I use AdBlock, it seems to work ok.

My nano-shed (its so small I have to work on the molecular level). It normally looks more like Talldad's but my kids must have photoshopped messy untidiness onto it :wink: I do have a couple of machines, 6" buzzer and a moveable bench with drum sander and small thicknesser on it, but they get rolled...

What about any woodwork show wherever you are? When I went to the recent(ish) Perth Woodworkers Show there was a guy who set up a stall promoting his guitar building courses and there were other student displays at another stand, Fine Woodwork Assoc. So maybe you could tag on with another display? I...

Hi Nigel, Carbatec has their head office in Brisbane and sell a small range of the sanders. I fancy the Jet benchtop one. I recently had issues with Hare & Forbes when a thicknesser motor mount broke after very few hours usage (under 10). As the warranty had expired, I had to get Consumer Protection...