Photo 3
Notes
Posted 7 months ago
I got kind of discouraged cutting the hearts for the dulcimer, so I’ve let it sit for quite awhile. I’ll pick it back up over the winter. In the meantime I’m going to make a ukulele with a gourd I purchased today. I need to order the wood for the sound board this week. I’ll glue that on the gourd and shellac the gourd. I’ll post doing it. Zoom

I got kind of discouraged cutting the hearts for the dulcimer, so I’ve let it sit for quite awhile. I’ll pick it back up over the winter. In the meantime I’m going to make a ukulele with a gourd I purchased today. I need to order the wood for the sound board this week. I’ll glue that on the gourd and shellac the gourd. I’ll post doing it.

Video 4
Notes
Posted 1 year ago

I glued on the side pieces to the scroll head and the tail block. Tomorrow, if I have time, I’ll measure out the top pieces and cut out the heart sound holes.

Photo 1
Notes
Posted 1 year ago
What is this? The tail block of the mountain dulcimer I’m making. There’s a lot of things that can go wrong making this. Zoom

What is this?

The tail block of the mountain dulcimer I’m making. There’s a lot of things that can go wrong making this.

Video 6
Notes
Posted 1 year ago

I’ll miss this one. You should have it in your capable hands in six to ten days Lou!

Video 8
Notes
Posted 1 year ago

It’s all done. I’ll send it on its way to Manchester later this week. Before I do I’ll probably record a song with it.

It turned out well. The cigar box was old, so I didn’t sand it as heavily as I have some. I wanted to make sure the lettering stood out. I did put a lot of finish coats on though. It already looks old, which I like.

Video 2
Notes
Posted 1 year ago

Making the pickup for the cigar box uke. I’ll sandwich the buzzer between layers of cut out balsa wood airplane wings.

Video 8
Notes
Posted 1 year ago

The nut and bridge are glued on, and I’ve put two coats of finish on the uke. I’ll put another four to six coats on over the next couple of days. I’ll make a pickup for it in the next day or so.

Photo 8
Notes
Posted 1 year ago
I don’t know what I was thinking, there’s no way this will be done this weekend. I’ve glued on the neck, and later this evening I’ll glue on the bridge. Then I’m going to put on six coats of lacquer. Next weekend I should be able to attach the nut and pegs, then it will be done. Zoom

I don’t know what I was thinking, there’s no way this will be done this weekend. I’ve glued on the neck, and later this evening I’ll glue on the bridge. Then I’m going to put on six coats of lacquer. Next weekend I should be able to attach the nut and pegs, then it will be done.

Video 9
Notes
Posted 1 year ago

I screwed up cutting the sound hole in the cigar box. It was almost a 1/4” off center, which is too much to adjust the neck placement. I’ve been looking for another box for a few months, but couldn’t find anything that had the depth, width, and a clasp that’s needed.

I finally settled on a box I’ve had for awhile. I really like its look, and the wood is great, but it’s a little narrow and long for what I normally do.

That’s OK though. A cigar box uke is a unique instrument, so I decided it’s OK to have a unique box on it. I should be able to finish it up this up by the end of this weekend. I’ll post photos along the way.

Photo 4
Notes
Posted 1 year ago
Sanding the neck and glueing on the fret board. I found when sanding that even when you think it’s done, wet the wood and the grain will rise up. I always wet and sand a few times to make sure it’s smooth. Zoom

Sanding the neck and glueing on the fret board. I found when sanding that even when you think it’s done, wet the wood and the grain will rise up. I always wet and sand a few times to make sure it’s smooth.