Tuesday

In the workshop, you have to plan your day, so that you can get the most out of your resources; in my case the limiting factor seems to be space and clamps! Also you need to work on one item for as long as you can before gluing it up and having to wait for the glue to dry.

So what happened on Tuesday.

First things first; switch the bending iron on so that it can warm up.

Next unclamp the mandolin; the back was glued to the rim on Monday.

Next clean-up the solid linings that were glued to the guitar’s sides.

 That all done, the bending iron is hot enough to bend the next piece of lining; then glue it in place. 

On Roland's guitar there are 12 separate pieces to bend and glue, so it has to be done over the course of a few days.

Next, shape the two braces that have been glued to the guitar’s back and then glue on the third.

Mark out the bracing pattern on to the guitar’s soundboard, make the bridge plate and sound hole reinforcements.

Glue the bridge plate in place.

Both of Roland’s instruments will have ebony bindings and I prepare these from ebony stock; very time consuming and grubby work!

 As we’re getting near the end of the day, the solid lining that was glued up about 6 hours ago can be unclamped, the second piece bent and laminated to the first.

 The soundboard is glued to the mandolin’s rim.

The guitar’s bridge plate is dry so the first sound hole reinforcement can be glued on- much later in the evening I’ll go in to the workshop and glue on the second.

 That was Tuesday…….