Acoustic Guitar Construction

Well I was watching Roy Underhill this afternoon, the guest was an expert furniture maker, restorer and hammer veneer specialist. So he's working along applying the veneer, puts gobs of glue (HHG) on the good face of the veneer, flips it over, put loads of glue on the down side -- this its said is to balance the moisture and help keep the veneer flat. Then he peels it off, puts it back down -- now good side up of course covered with HHG --- adds some more HHG then uses his hammer tools to press it down and scrap off the excess glue -- no clamps. I am thinking and Roy says "what the heck are you going to do with that glue mess on the surface?" The guys say "oh that's not a mess it there on purpose to fill the pores" (Walnut) You let it dry and use a cabinet scraper to level it -- the surface will be smooth as glass. So demonstrates -- sure enough -- perfect, wood grain shimmering with no finish yet applied. Note he was working very, very fast -- knowing the glue could set up in an instant.

I saw a Robbie O'Brien demonstration where he used HHG directly on the top! He likes the tonal quality and says that effectively, what you're doing is aging the top 20 years.
I'm just the reporter...

edit: I just re-watched the demo; he uses the hhg as a sealer in preparation for a shellac finish, did not mention the tonal qualities, and did say that it ages the top 20 years.

I will let you guys go first :)

Interesting -- personally I sprinkle "Magic Fairy Dust" on the sound-boards that I wish to have defy and accelerate the natural effects of time, usage, temperature and environment.

I assumed he was talking about the visual appearance. I believe I will check that out and get back to you. Robbie is not an MFD (magic fairy dust) kinda guy, I don't think.

As to pore filling properties of HHG, was that Underhill broadcast a recent one?

I almost think a MFD part of the forum would be fun. :-)

Here you go

http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/3100/3110.html

Off topic but this one is very interesting too


http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/3100/3109.html

Thank you, that was a fun episode.

I'm going to find some scrap wood and give the pore filling a try. I'll need a better squeegee than what I have.