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As I have mentioned, I am dealing with short-term memory loss. It may be worse, because I seem to be forgetting stuff I have known-done over a period of years. I am looking for a video tutorial series that totally covers building steel string acoustics with the outside mold. This would be something I could view to "refresh my recollection"(as we trial lawyers say). I just realized how maybe more things are dropping off the quick retrieval files in my head. I do have John Hall's YT vids as a playlist and subscribed.

Just so you friends know how bad this is, I have built maybe 6 acoustics in fits and starts over 39 years. Only one complete used an outside mold- otherwise it was Sloane-ish). I have my Steinert neck and block, I have my bent sides in my slope-dread mold, clamped but no dedicated spreaders made yet. My neck block is 4 1/16th" tall. I was planning on 4 3/4"+ at the tailblock but about 4 3/8th"+ at the neck join. I can't even remember how I got my ribs close to ultimate size for installing the blocks and then adding the linings and then sanding to profile with my dishes. I can see some of the steps in my mind but can't get them "ordered."

I'm embarrassed and kind of frightened- but less so here than I would be anywhere else. So, what set should I purchase?Thanks.

Mike,

I use the outside mold method on both my classical and steel string guitars and show this in my DVD's and videos.

Thanks, Robbie- I believe I have your DVD. I will try to find it. I recall that you frequently refer to a "finger" as a "high-tech" glue spreader.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... ues+creek+
this will be enough to give you a night or 2 to watch

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Thanks, John. I'll see if I missed gathering your videos. Thought I had playlisted them all. But, the memory thing.... In my mind's eye I can see myself cutting the overlaps of the ribs away-- then positioning my heel and tail blocks, to fix my perimeter. Where I am lost is that I don't remember myself gluing and clamping those blocks hanging "in the air" centered at the midpoint of the height of my raw sides-but I can recall using my favorite LN LA block plane to trim the sides before putting on the linings and then "bus driving" on a jig/workboard I made with a 1/2" partially threaded bolt vertical axle. I just draw a blank.

I will note- the two responses I have gotten so far are from video producers--THAT IS A COMPLIMENT GENTS- John has always freely shared and Robbie's productions(I bought two or three; I'm still looking for them but a memory problem enhances "lost" status in my little two BR bungalow.) were well received by me when I watched them. So, I am a happy customer of both men-bought videos from Robbie and materials from John- gotten phone advice from John and if I had Robbie's phone number I am certain that he would supplement his video productions with 1:1 advice. Good men, both.

Mike,

Have you given any thought to taking photos of the end of each step? I find that the photos I take to document builds for customers are a great memory jogger, and pausing to take them keeps me from getting ahead of myself.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Pat-I believe that would be very helpful. I was very satisfied with the body of the guitar I did with a mold- I had a blended approach. Made a workboard with soundhole pivot point of hardened steel bushing for drillbits-held my pin for my trimmer rosette jig. Then, there was the outline of the OM body drawn on it- I then lined up my mold with that drawn outline. I fastened the mold to the workboard with threaded inserts and holes in the perimeter of the mold for 1/4-20 bolts. Sounds complicated but it is not-I rigged up a block in the thoeretical center of the body and that had the radius dish "axle" sticking up out of it.

A Eureka moment-found Robbie's Steel String DVD. I may be saved.

Mike, sounds like you're about my age. If I don't build pretty much every day it's a matter of memory, not so much technique. I'm thinking of an inside mold instead of my mostly normal outside mold. Pictures along the way might have helped.
Hugh

Thank you Mike for the compliment. Keep that high tech glue spreading device in top shape, use it often.