Granny's Gets Ready for School

Today I decided to put all my stuff together for my course next week. Monday starts week two of my Musical Instrument Construction course. Last year was the first week, and I've done some work on it during the course of the year.

When we finished last year, I had the sides partially completed but still on the mould. Since then I've finished the sides, and started working on the back. I decided to work on the back because it's maple and therefore hard wood. The top is soft wood, spruce, and I figured I could do less damage as I learned how to use a gouge if I started with the back. I'm guessing that the instructor will take a look at how I've been doing it and show me a better (the correct) way to use a gouge.

Here's what I've done so far. It doesn't look like the back has come that far since I last posted about it, but there's quite a lot of maple all over the work table, so I guess I've made some progress. Stay tuned. Next Friday, when the course is finished for another year, I'll have more pictures.

Granny's Fiddle Update

Well it's been a while since I hung an update on my fiddle making out here. I've learned a couple of interesting things since the last time I blogged about it.


I've learned that I'm good at sharpening gouges ... and at applying band-aids to my fingers.

I've come to realize that by the time my fiddle is completed, it will be readily identifiable by my DNA. I may not have to stain it. Okay, so I exaggerate somewhat for effect.


I have also learned some technique for using gouges. When I started this project, my woodworking tool skills were limited to sandpaper and a knife for making stick to roast wienies. Up until now, I've been using a gouge and a beech mallet and bashing my way through the back of this poor piece of maple. Today I found out how to use the gouge a little more gently.


Here is the picture from a while back of the back along with the picture from today ... post-blister. You can see it's starting to take shape around the edges and I've worked my way further into the centre.


I'm starting to see a fiddle emerging from what was once a solid slab of bird's eye maple.