Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone have ideas on the purchase or fabrication of a houndstooth-patterened purfling? TIA.

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Anybody? (bump)

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

What exactly do you want it to look like in purfling form? The picture of houndstooth on wikipedia looks like it's more of a surface-covering pattern, than a fine line pattern. But in any case, it looks like it's just solid black and white squares, alternating with stripey squares that could be made by layering up different thickness veneers and then cutting it diagonally to rotate the lines by 45 degrees.

Dennis,

I think that's the track my imagination is taking as well...I'm planning a 'Crimson Tide" themed guitar and we're undecided on which elements should make it into the finished instrument. Houndstooth seems like a must, and we are thinking rosette (which seems the safe and obvious choice) or the more understated top border where the pattern would be used in lace of abalone or simple purfling lines.

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Man, you have GOT to post pics of that thing! You have me intrigued...for instance, are you going to use bloodwood for the back and sides?

_________________
Phil

http://www.oleninstruments.com

"Those who tilt at windmills are only considered insane by those who can't see the dragon."

Lar, it looks like one element shape, in a two color layup, repeated 4 times.

I've laid out the process as I see it.

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

That looks like the easiest way to lay it up. To have it recognizable as houndstooth, it would need to be layered in multiples of four. 12-16 layers would look great.

_________________
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement.

Just make sure whatever wood you use for Red doesn’t, overtime, fade to Orange. That would probably work against your theme.

If it fades to orange, hopefully it will be kind of a burnt orange. Then the good Texas college will have a guitar. Hahaha

_________________
Stephen

Phil - the back and sides will likely be maple, with a transparent dye for color...
Billy T - you always amaze me! I'm not even going to ask how you modeled that so quickly!
John - What an "Au-ful" possibility!
Stephen - don't get me started!

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Well... People usually say I scare the heck out of them ...I guess that's close!

Cause I did it WRONG!!

I inadvertently inverted the two center layups! Here's what it should look like!


And here's what they would look like laid together in a full houndstooth. Just in case, I don't know what exactly you're doing.


Here's a picture of where houndsteeth come from!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Ha! I'm thinking a top border such as one would normally accomplish with herringbone or abalone, but using home rolled houndstooth instead.

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself.

_________________
Stephen

That's OK!! Just don't let it happen again!!!

Just as long as it's not Tennesee!!!!

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Definitely not Tenn. Always a longhorn fan though.

_________________
Stephen

Thanks guys! I'm brainstorming (more of a light drizzle, actually) on what material I'll use to do this...I'm thinking initially of WBW plastic purfling lines and using an exacto to scrape the white off so that I have the segments...then laying up the lines side-by-side for the pattern...but Andy Dufrene tunnneled out of Shawshank with a rock hammer faster than I'll be able to do this...brainstorming continues....

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com

Looking at Billy T's final pic, what if you just split a piece of Herringbone down the middle than glued the side pieced to another strip (but backwards)? If you are doing black and white, I would think that would work.

Best bet Lar, is to do a straight layup of flat veneer, fishpaper or plastic and after it sets cut the small strips on the bias. I'm pretty sure the angle is 45º.

I don't know how wide you're planning on making these. That would probably determine what's the best way to approach this as for material and technique.

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Billy, I'm a product of the Alabama Public Education System. 'Laborate a little...I think I'm getting it, but I need another illystrashun...

_________________
http://www.presnallguitars.com