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Anyone build the Stew-Mac mandolin kit? I just purchased one from them that I should get in a few days. I bought Don MacRostie's dvd's on building a mandolin from Brock a couple years ago and after watching it again yesterday I'm sad to say that it inspired me to pull the trigger on the kit.

Anyway, just looking for some inside tips from anyone who has worked up one of these boogers.

Btw, I dreamed last night that Roger Siminoff was hanging out at my house and I was in a frantic looking for his book so he could sign it, then I woke up.......wonder what that means......lol

No, I don't do drugs

Hutch

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

I haven't built one but I saw an f5 kit recently and the neck, back and rim were nicely figured.

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Regards from RangeView, Bill

never built one of the kits , but I would have to believe its pretty straight forward and should be easy for a high stepper as yourself . good to see u joining us on the dark side . glad to have you my friend . Post your progress , I would very much like to see it

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Well, I got the kit from Fed-Ex last night approx 7pm. Opened it this morning and took some pictures. It also come with a set of plans for the F5 drawn by Don MacRostie. Here are some pictures. I'm going to the craft store today to buy material to make templates. I want to make those before I start whittling on this thing. Also want to make an outside mold although Big Don say in his DVD to make one out of cardboard. I'll post pics along the way since this is the first mando I've worked on. I'll be taking lots of notes too. Also, I'll wait a couple weeks before doing anything woodwork to let it acclimate to the climate here in Houston, TX.

Hutch


The whole kit (plans not shown)


Maple Back


European Spruce

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

very cool. I hope you post build pictures along the way. This is on my bucket list.

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-Marcus
http://www.bailieguitars.com
Instagram | YouTube

I will indeed Marcus. I'll be posting lots of pictures.

Well, I just sanded the top and back and wet it down with naphtha. The top and back both are not bookmatched. I read earlier where someone had ordered a top for an archtop from Stew-Mac and it wasn't bookmatched when he received it. I agree with him. Do you really need to specify to them that you want bookmatched? The back has "ok" flame, it's not the best I've saw, but maybe it will look better under a yellow stain and lacquer.

Hutch

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Chuck,

Too bad about the plates..

Did they send Ivoroid or pvc bindings?

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Hey Chris,
They send several strips of white and black ABS plastic. Also, a chunk of white ABS to carve the two points on the mando.

Hutch

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

I just emailed stew-mac and they say the bindings are PVC. The advertisement say ABS. I don't know what the difference is.

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Glued in the linings today using hot hide glue and cloths pins. Also made an outside mold using cardboard.

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Sanding the linings down to the rim and carving the spruce top to the dimensions on the plans with Ibex finger planes. Sanded rims to 320 and cleaned up all glue squeeze-out so they are ready to receive top and back.

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Chuck, lookin' good.

Do yourself a huge favor and order some celluloid bindings. If you want to follow along with Don in his video, you can't do what he does using PVC or ABS. I guess I shouldn't say you cannot, but, in my experience I can't. Not only will the celluloid be easier to work with, it will look better as well. You can use celluloid or bone for your corner blocks.

http://www.axinc.net/Celluloid_Binding_Laminates_s/56.htm

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Wow, thanks Chris. These are just the tips I was hoping to find here. The stuff they sent was not laminated together and I was having nightmares wondering how I was going to pull it off.


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_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Cut the ff holes out this morning using a coping saw. Just need to sand them down to the line and square the sides of the holes with the top. Next step will be to glue the top and back to the rim assembly.

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Nice work. I never did a stew mac mando kit but did a saga kit a few years ago. I have been looking at their A style kit though. I'm not a big fan of F styles myself. Yeah I know everyone loves them but I don't I like a simple A style. Keep us informed with more photos though...Thanks...Mike

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Another day, another dollar.

Worked a little more on the mando. Have the back and top glued to the rims using fish glue. I glued in the tone bars with hide glue and shaped them down yesterday. Tomorrow I will use a flush bit and get the top and back overhang even with the rim, then it will be time for binding.....oh joy !!!

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Looking great, Chuck! Thanks for giving us updates.

_________________
-Marcus
http://www.bailieguitars.com
Instagram | YouTube

Chuck... looking good!
Did you get the neck fit and dropped before gluing on the back?

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Chris, good eye. No, like the true noob I am, I glued the back on without even considering mounting the neck. Unbelievable. So this isn't like guitar building too much. Well, I guess I can remove the back or try to fit the neck with the back attached. Big Jim, I think I just qualified for Dufus of the Month. ..... Lol


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_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Chuck... sorry dude.

You will be better off in the long run and have a better fitting neck .. especially in the button area if you remove the back and get the neck set. I think you mentioned having Don's video. Watch that part again. Once you get the neck position settled you need to cut the bottom of the neck heel close and flush sand it. That way when you glue on the back you have a perfect fit.

Look at it this way.. you'll have practice removing a mandolin back! Tap tune the tone bars while you are in there..

Chuck... here, I added a pic of the neck heel trimming. This is on one of my Celtic mandos, but the operation is the same.

_________________
Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Thank you Chris for your expertise. I'm going to remove the back and fit the neck. Some time soon. I have to move back to Illinois next week from Texas so work will resume then. What do you use to tap the bars? I read where Siminoff uses a piano hammer that strikes the strings.


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_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Chuck,
I've seen Roger using the piano hammer in his books. I use a piece of maple (1/2" wide and in the shape of a piano hammer) wrapped with a thick piece of heavy felt. Kinda looks like a piano hammer. Mine is spring loaded so I always get the same strike on the tone bars or back.
Just kidding.. but I'm sure someone will try that out.

Good luck on the move. Just in time for the storms... the whole trip.

_________________
Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...