Busy week at work so very little lutherie done.

AND the heater element in my bending iron burned out so I had a PIG of a job finding a replacement, but HOPEFULLY the one I found at RSComponents will do the job when it arrives so I can get the binding on the cutaway mando and the sides bent for the 00 bouzouki.

my internet is driving me nuts!!

my home connection is VERY tempramental, and I can't use blogger or photobucket at work, so posting these pics is getting very hit & miss!!

anyway, I've got some bits & pieces done this week:

three fretboards slotted, for the cutaway mando, then OM and a guitar bodied bouzouki that will eventually find it's way to Lanzarotte....



cantilevered neck extention onto the OM



truss rod slot cut



fretboard glued on



binding slots cut



and rosewood binding fitted



mando neck rough cut



binding slot cut..



neck for the zouk rough cut and the headplate glued on

The braces carved on the OM,



then after planing the linings right at the edges I glued on the top,



and after six hours or so to set, trimmed the excess



it's starting to look like it might some day be a musical instrument of some sort!!

the mando had the bridge plate shaped and glued into place and an extra brace added to support the top into the neck block



then the braces were carved

working on the two tops today.

rosettes finished & planed smooth





then internal bracing marked out & glued on.







the mando will need more bracing and a bridge plate on the inside to support the pull of the strings, while the OM wont need as much as the tailpiece & floating bridge is more gentle on the top.

Next day I HOPE to carve the braces on the OM and glue in the other bits on the mando.

#54 mandonaught.....

back braces carved & back glued onto the sides.



surplus trimmed off the back. it almost looks like it could some day be a musical instrument!!





sadly the pupils start back into school tomorrow so my luthier time will be seriously cut down, but I'll keep doing what I can, when I can!!