Official Luthiers Forum!

One of those nights. This Saturday night after my weekly poker game I came home and was far from sleepy. So I went to the shop and was going to brace up a top. I had split my brace stock and dimensioned my braces Friday night. So all I had to do was radius them, notch them and glue them up.

Well this is a new bracing pattern for me. It is a double X bracing pattern so there are two intersection notches in each of the 4 X braces arms. These notches need to be: two top side notches in the first arm of main X , one bottom side and one top side notch on the other arm of the main X, one top side and one bottom side notch on one of the tone bar X arm, and last but not least both notches down on the finial to be glued tone bar X arm. two top side notches on one of the main X arms, one bottom side and one top side X on the other main X arm.


Well I got the main X done with out issue and was making the tone bar X arms up. The first the tone bar X to go in I goofed and put both notches up. NO problem right! I will just make up an other real quick. So I did, being very carful to mark the notches just right. Got them marked to it to the bench and notched it out, Exactly back- assward.! I took a deep breath and did it again. Got it right!!!!!!!!!!!.

Then I notched out the final tone bar X arm to gonin. I needed both notches on the radiused or bottm side since it is the last to go in. I took it to the go-bar deck just to realize I notched it on the flat side of the brace. Another deep breathe and I made up another. Well by this time it was 3AM when I noticed I did it again and notched the flat side or top of the final brace again.

So I turned off the lights in the shop. Locked the door and went to bed, just short of being in a huff.

I feel much better today

Never force yourself to do something you love to do!

This is the results !
I know a bit about that!

Mike

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Mike Collins

". . . . you think you got the routine down."

That was your first mistake. Well, it's usually my first mistake.

You left the shop at a good time, Michael. Congratulations!

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

Sometimes I find that I'm more tired than I thought I was, or that my mind is elsewhere occupied. I've done my share of this thing. I'll reinforce in my own head the desired procedure or outcome, and then proceed to mess it up.

I feel your pain.

Darrin

Michael, I feel your pain! I've done different things from the same mindset up in the shop...at the airline we're required to have "CRM" (Cockpit Resource Management) training every year...just a bunch of statistics and case studies of airline accidents and how they occurred...it's 9 times out of 10 a result of complacency stemming from "having the routine down"...happily, in the shop we can just take several deep breaths and try again! And, if I'm ever not sleepy at 3am, I just dig out an airline operations manual and read a paragraph...sound asleep by the end of 2 minutes! If you like, I'll email you an excerpt and you can sleep at night and be fresh in the shop in the morning!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

At least that sentence didn't continue...so I walked into my shop wearing nothing but boxer shorts...

Sorry to hear about your trouble Michael. Fatigue is sneaky.

At least you went to bed before you hurt yourself! Good reminder, Michael.

Yeah, what Steve said. For instance, at least you didn't notch your finger!
My associate, Ryan, just got his stitches out from "notching his finger". Turns out those LMI chisels can cut a looong way in.

Glad all's well.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I have a very low tolerance for stupid mistakes! When I start to see them pop up, even once, I pull back, take a deep breath, get my mind on something else...take a walk... whatever, then go back! Helps a lot!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

I did that 3 years ago remember the photos

Michael, usually I try to put those images out of my mind.
Don't remind me!! (He says w/ a shudder...)

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com