Hello Stephen, Thank you for the detailed camera-work and the showing of the way you design and make the Rosette. Respect to you sir, my father was a professional woodworker and sometimes did inlays of various kinds, though he never had most of the speciality tools you do, because he was doing inlays, and yes this also included rosette’s though he did just maybe 6 in his lifetime, this would be weekend work, and during the week to earn money for his own company he would be making box sash windows or, hand built kitchens or a table and chairs you understand.
Stephen Boone More than that it showed me the skill that goes into it. I love the sound of the guitar. Honestly if I had the means I would quite happily commission one of your guitars based solely on the stunning build quality and sound that you tube no doubt barely does justice! I'm dying to hear a high quality example of the audio.
Nice to meet you at the GAL a few weeks ago. THANK YOU for sharing your videos. I bought 2 planes from you a year or so ago, and love how they feel and work. Keep up the good work.
A lot of people say guitars are "overpriced", but when you see the time and detail that goes into making them, you become enlightened on why guitars cost so much.
Very interesting video steve thanks for sharing. I didnt quite get the name of the first piece of music played could you please let me know. Thanks again.
Very cool! And well done... I have a question, around 1:36 in as you fit each individual tile into the channel, do you angle cut both ends of each tile or just one side? Also, are these tiles curved on the outside and inside edges at all or are they just short enough that they can be straight (parallel edges) such that eye doesn't pick up that it's not a true curve? Hope my question makes sense. Thanks for any tips you can provide!
This was very much "freehand" so the tiles were trimmed with the chisel on one or both sides as needed to keep the tiles as even as possible. The tiles are installed without an inner or outer curvature. I cut in a curvature after installation with the dremel tool. The tiles should be very slightly too tall so this works out. I have refined this process quite a bit since making this video and rosettes look better now.
Oh, yeah, now I see how you routed the curvature inside and outside as part of the next step of putting in more banding.... I'm making a 'compass rose' inlay in a piece a furniture (a bench) and I've never inlaid curves before let alone a true circle so I'm looking to guitar makers for tips on how to best do this. Current thinking now is to steam or hot pipe bend the ebony and holly strips (each about 1/8" thick, which corresponds to the smallest router bit I own for cutting the circle) to the approximate diameter of the outer ring, i.e. 4". Then cut the individual pieces to length and angle cutting/sanding the ends as you describe. What do you think: does that seem like a good reasonable plan (with the limited amount of info I've given you)? My limitations are time and tools on hand. I don't have a fancy circle cutting jig for my router, just a simple plywood base with a fixed pin. Thanks again!
Your router jig sounds just fine. I worked with something like that for many guitars. Ebony can be tricky to bend because it is so brittle. Consider walnut for the dark color if you have trouble. Holly bends real well. A cheap curling iron is a decent heat source for bending. 1/8 inch is pretty hefty for bending at a 4 inch circle. I would consider working the material to 1/16 and using two strips of one color to fill the gap. You can also alternate colors and such depending on your creative vision. If you cannot have a hole in your project for a router pivot pin you can use a small piece of wood with the proper size hole for the pivot pin and then double stick tape the pivot point on to your project. I recommend doing a full scale practice run on scrap wood before digging in to your bench. You will find all sorts of issues this way.
Thanks for the all the info! Yeah, already discovered how well holly bends just using water and microwave trick. Have not tried ebony yet. I've been warned. Yeah, maybe bend two strips of 1/16" ebony and then glue them together. ?
Also, the inlay is going into a walnut bench which is why I wanted to use ebony, plus I've already glued up the ebony/holly sandwiches which I'll cut to make the direction arrows, etc. There's no problem having a hole in the center as it will be covered by the other parts of the inlay. I'll let you know how it goes, if you're curious!
+Rinaldo Faria I actually have a video on sharpening that you can find on my utube page. I just looked at it and it really needs an update but the info will be ok.
+Stephen Boone. Thanks Stephen. I watched your video about sharpening but I still have a doubt because when I try to open a channel on the top to start a rosette I got some problem on the borders of channel and I think it could be the sharpening or angle of the blade when touch the wood. Could you give me some advices?
Rinaldo, when cutting a rosette channel with a knife or blade it is very important to have a precise sharp blade tip. Sharpness and blade angle are important as you have written. I recommend trying different ideas on scrap wood until you find something that works for you.
Great video! I'd like to ask you a question about the soundhole: Do you think it's possible to make a guitar without a soundhole that has ongoing frets where the soundhole should be with the fretboard partally hollowed out instead?
Luc - I am not sure what you mean by "fretboard partially hollowed out" but you can certainly make a guitar without a sound hole and/or put a sound hole in a different spot.
Ok, cool! I meant to ask if it would be possible to make holes/carved patterns into the fretboard instead of having a soundhole, so you could use a larger fretboard. I mean by that carving away material between the frets
HELLO DEAR SR STEPHEN...THANKS YOU for sharing your videos...THEY ARE VERY USEFUL.... WOUNDERLFUL JOB. I ADMIRE YOUR TALENT AND BEAUTY OF YOUR WORK.. iM FROM VENEZUELA I REALLY LIKE YOUR JOB .... I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE TOOL YOU ARE USING TO MAKE THE CIRCLE... i MEANT i THINK YOU ARE USING A DREMMEL OR SOMETING LIKE THAT BUT i can not find the guide you are using ....would you like to help me with that please ... i'm looking for the tool on amazon or luthiermercantil but I DIDN'T FOUND IT YET.. i'm so sorry for my english I'M USING GOOGLE TRASLATE i HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME.....
Wow! Awesome... at 6:33 you use some sort of spokeshave for thicknessing you purfling strips. What is that tool called and where can I find one? Thanks.
Hello Stephen,
Thank you for the detailed camera-work and the showing of the way you design and make the Rosette.
Respect to you sir, my father was a professional woodworker and sometimes did inlays of various kinds, though he never had most of the speciality tools you do, because he was doing inlays, and yes this also included rosette’s though he did just maybe 6 in his lifetime, this would be weekend work, and during the week to earn money for his own company he would be making box sash windows or, hand built kitchens or a table and chairs you understand.
Was watching several of your videos. Crazy talent.
Simply wonderful. I've always wondered what goes into the job and now I'm utterly in awe. It's just stunning :)
I am glad that you liked it!
Stephen Boone
More than that it showed me the skill that goes into it. I love the sound of the guitar. Honestly if I had the means I would quite happily commission one of your guitars based solely on the stunning build quality and sound that you tube no doubt barely does justice! I'm dying to hear a high quality example of the audio.
Nice to meet you at the GAL a few weeks ago. THANK YOU for sharing your videos. I bought 2 planes from you a year or so ago, and love how they feel and work. Keep up the good work.
You are welcome for the videos and I am thrilled that you enjoy your planes!
I found this video mesmerizing. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful work. Thank you Stephen.
Hi Stephen, this is beautifull , real magic what you do with your hands,
Beautiful job. Thanks for sharing.
Great work of art
Beautiful.
A lot of people say guitars are "overpriced", but when you see the time and detail that goes into making them, you become enlightened on why guitars cost so much.
BRAVO!!!
Thank you for the Bravo!
soooo beautiful
Very impressive.
Sheer talent and skill
nice job
It's a very intrigued video. What glue did you use?
Love means "paying attention."
Very interesting video steve thanks for sharing. I didnt quite get the name of the first piece of music played could you please let me know. Thanks again.
Guardame Las Vacas. Thanks for watching!
The guitar is just a front. The real money's in the rosette.
:-)
Very cool! And well done... I have a question, around 1:36 in as you fit each individual tile into the channel, do you angle cut both ends of each tile or just one side? Also, are these tiles curved on the outside and inside edges at all or are they just short enough that they can be straight (parallel edges) such that eye doesn't pick up that it's not a true curve? Hope my question makes sense. Thanks for any tips you can provide!
This was very much "freehand" so the tiles were trimmed with the chisel on one or both sides as needed to keep the tiles as even as possible. The tiles are installed without an inner or outer curvature. I cut in a curvature after installation with the dremel tool. The tiles should be very slightly too tall so this works out. I have refined this process quite a bit since making this video and rosettes look better now.
Oh, yeah, now I see how you routed the curvature inside and outside as part of the next step of putting in more banding.... I'm making a 'compass rose' inlay in a piece a furniture (a bench) and I've never inlaid curves before let alone a true circle so I'm looking to guitar makers for tips on how to best do this.
Current thinking now is to steam or hot pipe bend the ebony and holly strips (each about 1/8" thick, which corresponds to the smallest router bit I own for cutting the circle) to the approximate diameter of the outer ring, i.e. 4". Then cut the individual pieces to length and angle cutting/sanding the ends as you describe. What do you think: does that seem like a good reasonable plan (with the limited amount of info I've given you)?
My limitations are time and tools on hand. I don't have a fancy circle cutting jig for my router, just a simple plywood base with a fixed pin.
Thanks again!
Your router jig sounds just fine. I worked with something like that for many guitars. Ebony can be tricky to bend because it is so brittle. Consider walnut for the dark color if you have trouble. Holly bends real well. A cheap curling iron is a decent heat source for bending. 1/8 inch is pretty hefty for bending at a 4 inch circle. I would consider working the material to 1/16 and using two strips of one color to fill the gap. You can also alternate colors and such depending on your creative vision. If you cannot have a hole in your project for a router pivot pin you can use a small piece of wood with the proper size hole for the pivot pin and then double stick tape the pivot point on to your project. I recommend doing a full scale practice run on scrap wood before digging in to your bench. You will find all sorts of issues this way.
Thanks for the all the info! Yeah, already discovered how well holly bends just using water and microwave trick. Have not tried ebony yet. I've been warned. Yeah, maybe bend two strips of 1/16" ebony and then glue them together. ?
Also, the inlay is going into a walnut bench which is why I wanted to use ebony, plus I've already glued up the ebony/holly sandwiches which I'll cut to make the direction arrows, etc. There's no problem having a hole in the center as it will be covered by the other parts of the inlay. I'll let you know how it goes, if you're curious!
Hi Stephen,
Please, could you tell me how you sharp the bit (hard steel) for cutting the sound hole?
+Rinaldo Faria I actually have a video on sharpening that you can find on my utube page. I just looked at it and it really needs an update but the info will be ok.
+Stephen Boone. Thanks Stephen. I watched your video about sharpening but I still have a doubt because when I try to open a channel on the top to start a rosette I got some problem on the borders of channel and I think it could be the sharpening or angle of the blade when touch the wood.
Could you give me some advices?
Rinaldo, when cutting a rosette channel with a knife or blade it is very important to have a precise sharp blade tip. Sharpness and blade angle are important as you have written. I recommend trying different ideas on scrap wood until you find something that works for you.
+Stephen Boone. Thanks, friend.
Here is a video of mine about rosette making.
Great video! I'd like to ask you a question about the soundhole: Do you think it's possible to make a guitar without a soundhole that has ongoing frets where the soundhole should be with the fretboard partally hollowed out instead?
Luc - I am not sure what you mean by "fretboard partially hollowed out" but you can certainly make a guitar without a sound hole and/or put a sound hole in a different spot.
Ok, cool! I meant to ask if it would be possible to make holes/carved patterns into the fretboard instead of having a soundhole, so you could use a larger fretboard. I mean by that carving away material between the frets
HELLO DEAR SR STEPHEN...THANKS YOU for sharing your videos...THEY ARE VERY USEFUL.... WOUNDERLFUL JOB. I ADMIRE YOUR TALENT AND BEAUTY OF YOUR WORK.. iM FROM VENEZUELA I REALLY LIKE YOUR JOB .... I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE TOOL YOU ARE USING TO MAKE THE CIRCLE... i MEANT i THINK YOU ARE USING A DREMMEL OR SOMETING LIKE THAT BUT i can not find the guide you are using ....would you like to help me with that please ... i'm looking for the tool on amazon or luthiermercantil but I DIDN'T FOUND IT YET.. i'm so sorry for my english I'M USING GOOGLE TRASLATE i HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME.....
Hi Stephen, What is the name of the tool that you used at minute 9:44 ? and where can we find it ?
That is the last second of the video. No tool there.
What glue are you using for the rosette?, looks very clear
Michael J King That is hide glue. It is very clear and one of the many good reasons to use it.
Thanks. The hide glue pearls I have seen much browner when prepared
macro micro work
in catalunya we said it is "xine work"
or can you suggest to me any tool for to cut the circle of the rocettes on the top of the instruments.... i'll be very grateful if you help me
Christian Llovera Stewart Macdonald sells several tools that will do the job.
Stephen Boone OK THANKS VERY MUCH FOR ANSWER ME
OOOH I'M CHECKING ON STEWARD MACDONALS THANK VERY MUCH THERE IS tHE TOOL THANKS VERY MUCH A
Wow! Awesome... at 6:33 you use some sort of spokeshave for thicknessing you purfling strips. What is that tool called and where can I find one? Thanks.
it seems a card scraper holder by Veritas.
It's a clever method scraper two purflings so they can level the cut.