A classical guitar for Wayne!

[Kevin in California]

I pretty much have the neck done to the point where the sides can be attached to it. Trimmed the end of the heel on my bandsaw. I shape the peghead using a drill bit stock "router" bit in the drill press with a template attached to the back side. This works really slick, you can check it out on Robbie O'briens Youtube videos. I also use a drilling jig from LMI to drill the tuner holes, quick and accurate.

I slot the heel of the neck on my table saw using a thin kerf ( about .070") circular saw blade. Again this takes a few minutes to set up but works really well and is quite accurate. The neck shaft is reduced in width close to where the fretboard will be so there won't be as much to remove later, and the heel area is relieved of some of the excess using a handsaw.

I also cut out the sides to near finished size with the taper on the back, and jointed the edge of the two back plates ready to join with a center strip of I think about 1/8" wide indian rosewood. The side and back plates still need to be thicknessed and I'll do that on my drum sander right before I'm ready to bend them, and join the back together. It was a good weekend.

[John J]

Looking good. Love all your pictures. I like the bandsaw protective padding.

[Kevin in California]

Hey John, the corners of those guide bars for the fence are very pointy!!!

Weeeeellllllllllll,
My friend wrote me the check, then told his wife he was having second thoughts (he didn't tell ME this), so at this point I don't know if he is still going to take this guitar. I have the check, but it is un-cashed. Hmmmmmm. Almost 2 weeks and still waiting for the final word, but they have a lot going on right now so their focus is on LIFE.

I'm going to go ahead with building this guitar as planned anyway, so I might have one for sale when I'm all done.

I did rough cut all the braces for the top the other night, and tonight I'm going to at least get the sides ready to bend, maybe even get the first one bent. We shall see.

[Kevin in California]

Still waiting to hear, but going ahead with the build.
Last night I thicknessed the sides down to .080" on my drum sander, and got the first side in the bender. Started bending the waist at 250 degrees and did the bouts at 300.
I didn't hear any cracking!!!! I left the side in over night and will take it out and do the other tonight.

[Kevin in California]

The first side came out of the bender, fits the mold good and all is well, then the second side went into the bender

[Kevin in California]

Both sides bent, end block glued in and the sides are now attached to the neck.
Next to clean up the side sanding to about 180 grit, then to radius the back on the 15 Ft. radius dish and install the kerfing.

[John Parchem]

I like your classical mold, How it is set up for the Spanish neck joint and nice angles for clamps.