Recent content by CliveB

Thanks for this clarification, I also use an RCGT tip (6mm polished type designed for aluminium) for hollowing - works extremely well and lasts for ages. This holder is made from 12mm dia silver steel (unhardened) held in an ER20 collet chuck. The shelf holding the cutter looks looks a little...

The Torx screws for many of the insert types should be one with a 60 degree taper which matches the internal taper on the insert - see Torx screw taper. This will keep the insert secure.

Most likely due to changes in relative humidity (RH), the spruce will shrink as the humidity decreases and later expand if the humidity rises again and so on. I am no expert but I have built one acoustic guitar. You don't say how much the movement has been? If you're currently in a "dryish"...

Before I upgraded my garage/workshop to draught-free, insulated doors, I used to use these: nylon work gloves

"Buffalo Board" would be a good choice. It's plywood with a phenolic layer on either side (one smooth side, one textured side). The phenolic material has similar characteristics to Tufnol. Available in various thicknesses. Clive

Thanks for the tip, I think I'll try that. Clive

A lidded pot I made using some cherry from our garden, 90mm diameter by 75mm high. I wish I could say that the design was my own, however it's lifted from a book by Richard Raffan. Clive

Just finished this Ash fruit bowl - it's 10" diameter by 3" high. Think I may have left the rim a little too wide though. I've used just a coat of cellulose sanding sealer so as not to darken or yellow the colour too much and was going to just wax it with microcrystalline wax. However, I have...

I have a very nice Record No 8 (or 08 to be precise) plane for sale. I use this so rarely it's not worth me hanging on to it, £165 plus £10 P&P or collection from West Malling, Kent. Clive

Just finished a yarn bowl made from cherry, it's 7" diameter by 4" tall. My wife designed the slot. Clive

Accurately ground steel strip is available as "ground flat stock" down to 1mm in thickness and up to 36" in length, this may suit your application:- Ground flat stock

That's true, but sometimes it's just very satisfying to make your own tool for a specific job. Clive

If you’re using citric acid it’s a good idea to neutralise the residual acid on the steel surface with a weak solution of baking soda (bicarbonate) to help prevent subsequent flash rusting. I have also had very good results with Restore, which does not attack the base metal but does leave a...

Hi John, Those are some seriously good looking guitars. Thanks for suggesting I look at the other two luthiers’ videos - I’ll check them out. I retired a couple or so years ago and I’m not looking for a second career - this is just for fun. I admit that l am a bit obsessed by intonation though...

Now that’s a good question. I have intonated my other guitars and had some idea of what I needed but at different scale length/actions etc. However there is a compensation calculator on the web by Mattola which takes all the string parameters/scale length/action in to account. He also published...