I've been doing woodworking as a hobby for a number of years, and used to do it as a side business . I got burned out on the tedium of making mundane items, so recently my focus has turned to building instruments. With my lifelong love of classical music, my next goal is starting to learn violinmaking, which I consider the Mount Everest of woodworking. I hope you enjoy following along as I fumble towards self actualization.
This was a fun watch, there is something very satisfying about seeing joins neatly trimmed. I hope you survive part two, it sounds pretty grim. ;) As one who is still new to making videos of woodworking, I found having to read the subtitles took my eyes away from the process too often. I am told that a lot of people, especially younger generations, prefer subtitles so I guess you can't please 'em all. Have you considered doing a voice-over as well? Regardless, I look forward to part two.
Yeah, that something that two other people mentioned yesterday about the subtitles. Reading them draws your eye from the action on screen. First I was concerned that voiceover may be too distracting, but it seems like the better option, all things considered. As long as I don’t talk like a Wrestle-Mania announcer, I should probably be fine. Thank you for the feedback!
I looked around the internet for inspiration, and found one that I really liked from a Spanish luthier named Asier de Benito. I really liked the proportions and lines, even though I'd already decided against the more period accurate solid carved body and neck loop design that his uses. His website doesn't mention any measurements except for the length of the strings between the tailpiece and the nut at the pegbox, which he measures at 550 mm. From there, I did my best to extrapolate all the other dimensions. I pulled up good old MS Paint, and drew a line on the image along the aforementioned string length. It told me that the line was X pixels long. Then I looked up a proportion calculator online, because as my own video mentions, I hate doing math. But logically, if the line which is (X) pixels long is proportional to 550 mm, then I have the relationship between those numbers that I need, so when I draw another line to measure the width of the bouts and such, then the new line that's (X) pixels long is equivalent to (Y) millimeters long. This gave me an approximate blueprint to work from, but there were plenty of small adjustments made along to way to make things slightly more pleasing to the eye.
Hi Brian, you did a great job on the citole! Yes, the top did not fit, but the work was very well done! My comments may be invalid since I don't know how much the top was off. So forgive me if I'm preaching to the choir. But, did you consider adding binding or decorative edging to the top? It may have helped you to add additional material to the edges so it could be glued on. Otherwise, saving it for another citole would have worked too. Old school gamba makers as well as violin etc would make the rib garland and then trace the outlines on the top or back wood , leaving a margin to trim back. Also, many instruments we're built without a mold, tracing the outline on the back, and building the ribs onto the back, so the outline was not as critical. Maybe things already understood by you. I'd like to build a citole also, so I was very excited to see your video and your Facebook posts as well!! Many Thanks!
I am planning to have some kind of ornamentation on the edges, but I'm considering my options whether or not to use inlayed purfling, or some other kind of decorative edge. In any case, the gap in one of the corners here was big enough that I wouldn't have bothered trying to add wood around the edge to make up for it.
Hi Brian, I replied to your comment on my video but don't know if you can see it since I had problems with comments. Anyway I'm looking foward to seeing what you do with all those tools!
Wow all those tools, I'm drooling! :D Before you build a violin I highly recommend watching the videos of Davide Sora, look him up. He is a master at the craft and has detailed videos.
Nice finds! And, quite kind of you to tell those people the value of the tools they had. I look forward to that instrument build video you mentioned. Are the any 'must have' violin making tools you're still hunting for?
I felt it was just the right thing to do. On paper, I could’ve grabbed that Bedrock Jack plane and given them $20 for it and they would’ve been none the wiser, but in real life, I have to look at myself in the mirror. Lowballing like that would’ve been downright grave-robbing. I’d love to have that sweet Bedrock but I already have a Stanley #6 that’ll do just fine for jointing edges for the top and back plates to be glued. I’m gonna have to buy gear at the time I need it for the build to proceed. After the plates are glued, what I really need is a good variety of gouges to carve the archings of the top and back plates, as well as detail work on the scroll. I’ll need different widths and sweeps. On gouges, sweep refers to how pronounced the curvature is on the cutting edge. I need to be able to make shallow and deep cuts, and everywhere in between. I’d really hoped there would be more gouges available to pick through, but all told, I think I did OK. Definitely a worthwhile day trip!
On a shamless self promotion note.... come see us at the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum in Cleburne Texas. You can see me and my apprentices make things, Learn about some history, and have a good time. We have a RU-vid channel called CTOM Smiths where you can see us make things as well
Maybe the next one I do I’ll be a little more organized with filming it. This one was entirely flying by the seat of my pants. Kinda hard to narrate when I have to stop and figure out every single step. 😄
@@BrianTimmonsTXyou’re a professional lyre luthier in my eyes. Loved seeing it regardless if you do my eyes will not be able to pull away from the screen
Really like the antler tip overlays! Have you figured out the arrow speed yet? I started doing that for my bows and it helps me understand how good of a bow I made compared to my previous bows.
I just came across you, and I really like your craftsmanship,, and I just subscribed. I’m retired now and getting into this artform , if that’s your second Bow,, I am VERY IMPRESSED. Hope to catch more of your classes,,
No worries. I got a little over an inch of set in each limb. It's also worth noting that I made this bow prior to learning about heat treating prior to tillering, and I've still yet to make a bow with a backing. Still very new at all this.
@@BrianTimmonsTX I'm in the same boat as you. I backed mine with rawhide, I'm almost done tillering and I have set similar to yours. Did your set stop augmenting after a certain point or does it keep growing?
Nice! It sounds really nice. That's not the most common thing one would say about a bow but it pushes the arrow with a confidence/really nice acceleration that I can "hear". The bend is really pleasing and the overall execution of the detail work is really well done. It's an elegant bow. Good job, young man.
Seems very well made. So you have nice quality red oak boards there. Here I must take those rare knotty red oak logs in front of forester's nose, but that wood is really great.
Dang what an odd but cool looking tool. At first I thought the boxiness would be a negative but it actually kind of helps for grip and worked out well. Nice restore.
I had a friend in FW tip me off about an antique store that was closing down. I went there during their last day, when people were milling around getting the last bits and pieces, and the pricing scheme was basically "make us an offer". I just got lucky.
michaelcthulhu is shaking his fist at the fact this is made out of only wood xD haha - in all fairness it actually annoys me somewhat to know it is made of wood - but at the same time, greatful if i ever took one to a games con, because as much as i love watching michaelcthulhu make giant heavy weapons, i'd much rather lug around one made of wood haha
