Hope to see you next month and show off some shine on these guitars. While waiting for temperature and humidity to be right, I'll be working on my AutoCAD and CNC testing. That should be interesting.
Keep music in your life.
Joe Lenzi, dba Woody Strings
Hello Woody friends. Here's an interesting fact. This website is getting more than 600 visits each month. I find that amazing. When I started building guitars (~1976) there were probably less than 50 small-shop guitar makers in America.
Recently, I've been considering setting up a blog to address questions, answers and new ideas. Then, however, I would be spending more time talking about guitars than actually building guitars. Besides, there are many luthier discussion blogs on line. Just Google "Luthier Discussion Forum". Otherwise, to reach Woody__ Woody@WoodyStrings.com
I am now winding up a one-year project at Woody Strings. It has taken a year for me to finish my "5-guitar" project. When I started I thought that it would take about 8 months to build 5 guitars. Then life got in the way. For one thing, I realized that I need a finishing shop that is free standing and not connected to the ventilation of the house that my family lives in. So, I took a couple of months out to build the "Wood Shed" which is not telling the whole story but, here it is.
(Note: If the text and photos don't line up, zoom in or out to uncover.)
Rotating from bass-side to the treble-side spraying is accomplished with the lazy susan. This method of suspending and controlling the guitar while spraying is incredibly simple and low tech... just the way Woody likes it.
(Final Note inserted here May, 2020)
CAUTION: Spraying on a horizontal surface make it easy (too easy) to apply TOO MUCH LACQUER. That's the worst thing one can do when spraying finish. Hanging the guitar vertically is a perfectly acceptable method and it comes with a built-in quality control. If one sprays too much finish on a vertical surface...it drips...very ugly. Vertical surfaces compel the luthier to spray lighter coats which cure faster. Applying the next coat before the previous coat has fully cured will bring finish problems at a later date. It doesn't take much imagination to figure out how I learned this.
Hope to see you back here next month.
Woody
Purpose of the Finish and Choices
The last skill that must be mastered to complete the guitar is that of applying a protective finish to the exterior of the guitar (except for the bridge and the fretboard, of course). The type and thickness of the finish is a matter of personal choice, however, instrument-grade, nitrocellulose lacquer is sold specifically for this purpose.