Thread: What are you working on?

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

So have any of you ordered from these guys at Gilmer Wood Company? https://www.gilmerwood.com/search/re...peghead+veneerTheir 1/8" guitar peghead veneers seem well-suited for razor scales. I'm thinking that I'm going to focus mostly on wood this summer, and am just scrounging for sources. I have already ordered from Bell Forest and Wood Turningz with great products and service.

I haven't gotten to make any new scales in a long time so I haven't been ordering online. I'm not familiar with that site.

Speaking of guitars, I remember seeing some fretboard blanks online that looked like they would work well. I believe they were also 1/8". It was some time ago so I don't remember the dimensions. Fretboards are usually made of rosewood, ebony, or maple. So, there are some good options.i bet Birdseye maple would look nice.

Originally Posted by JP5

I haven't gotten to make any new scales in a long time so I haven't been ordering online. I'm not familiar with that site.

Speaking of guitars, I remember seeing some fretboard blanks online that looked like they would work well. I believe they were also 1/8". It was some time ago so I don't remember the dimensions. Fretboards are usually made of rosewood, ebony, or maple. So, there are some good options.i bet Birdseye maple would look nice.

Joshua-IIRC, theirs and most other fretboard blanks are 3/16"-1/4" or so thick. Workable, but that's still a lot of expensive wood to plane or grind off to the correct thickness. Any time I can find blanks that are 1/8" or so, I'm a happy camper. Not so much work and waste.

I can’t speak to the pricing of the wood blanks, but they sure have a nice selection, and at 1/8” they are somewhat close in size to what you want. When I first started making scales I thought is was going to be all about the wood blanks until I found bone and now it’s almost all I do, but I have sure seen some others make some stellar wood scales. I hope you go for it. It’s not easy to find wood that looks amazing in such small pieces.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

...snip...3/16"-1/4" or so thick. Workable, but that's still a lot of expensive wood to plane or grind off to the correct thickness. Any time I can find blanks that are 1/8" or so, I'm a happy camper. Not so much work and waste.

I agree! After receiving blanks at 3/16 from friends and companies, I'll no longer buy or trade for wood unless it is 1/8" OR at least over 1/4".
If it's just under 1/4" then it's too hard to split and I end up having to waste wood, burn through my Japanese pullsaw, and spend hours sanding it to the right thickness. If I had a belt sander of some kind it would still be a waste.
So those blanks look great. Otherwise go to Cook Woods or another company for big chunks.

The people at Cook Woods were really helpful, sent me emails with specific pics, helped pic what I asked for, and I know they will be honest about the "cure condition" of the wood.
Last time I purchased wood on e bay, it still had a year to cure!

EDIT: I prefer wood over horn. Can't beat the variety of beauty.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Joshua-IIRC, theirs and most other fretboard blanks are 3/16"-1/4" or so thick. Workable, but that's still a lot of expensive wood to plane or grind off to the correct thickness. Any time I can find blanks that are 1/8" or so, I'm a happy camper. Not so much work and waste.

+1 to this. I ordered a couple of ebony blanks for these folks here: https://www.allenguitar.com/ftbd_blnk_eb.htm and they were absolutely beautiful. Two issues with regard to scales though. Apart from the thickness (their fretboard blanks are 5/16"), if you want to use a fretboard blank for scales, make sure it isn't pre-slotted!

Mine are actually going onto guitars, so that wasn't an issue for me. Just thought I'd flag it for anyone planning on using this as a source for scales.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

+1 to this. I ordered a couple of ebony blanks for these folks here: https://www.allenguitar.com/ftbd_blnk_eb.htm and they were absolutely beautiful. Two issues with regard to scales though. Apart from the thickness (their fretboard blanks are 5/16"), if you want to use a fretboard blank for scales, make sure it isn't pre-slotted!

Mine are actually going onto guitars, so that wasn't an issue for me. Just thought I'd flag it for anyone planning on using this as a source for scales.

What, you've got something against slotted razor scales?!You could lay in some frets, maybe a high-E string and bridge pin at the pivot, tuner on your wedge end, and use your metal brushes for a slide haha!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Joshua-IIRC, theirs and most other fretboard blanks are 3/16"-1/4" or so thick. Workable, but that's still a lot of expensive wood to plane or grind off to the correct thickness. Any time I can find blanks that are 1/8" or so, I'm a happy camper. Not so much work and waste.

My mistake on dimensions. Haven't dealt with guitar stuff in a LONG time.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

What, you've got something against slotted razor scales?!You could lay in some frets, maybe a high-E string and bridge pin at the pivot, tuner on your wedge end, and use your metal brushes for a slide haha!

Hey hey!!! There's an idea for some scales..
Could be a fun project.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

What, you've got something against slotted razor scales?!You could lay in some frets, maybe a high-E string and bridge pin at the pivot, tuner on your wedge end, and use your metal brushes for a slide haha!

Or you could make a ukulele that was also a traveling shaving kit. Use the back as a paddle strop!!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

What, you've got something against slotted razor scales?!You could lay in some frets, maybe a high-E string and bridge pin at the pivot, tuner on your wedge end, and use your metal brushes for a slide haha!

Originally Posted by JP5

Or you could make a ukulele that was also a traveling shaving kit. Use the back as a paddle strop!!

Who says we never have any fun around here?!?!!?