I was in a funk today and needed to snap out of it. I love making dulcimers but making dulcimers is also one of my jobs and I needed a break from working so I decided to go for a drive. I ended up at an antique mall. My definition of an antique mall is [...]
Category Archive for 'Tools'
I came across this book while doing research on varnish-making: The title alone provides a good read – “Valuable Secrets Concerning Arts and Trades: or, Approved directions, from the best artists : for the various methods of engraving on brass, copper, or steel. Of the composition of metals, and varnishes. Of mastichs and cements, sealing-wax, [...]
Some people find sharpening to be a tedious chore. Others find it to be a frustrating mystery. Some find it to be a pleasurable and meditative practice. I have found sharpening to be all of these things, though during the last few years it has become more of a non-event in the course of my [...]
Since I make dulcimers primarily using hand tools almost everything takes place on the bench. The rest of my small shop contains mostly tools and wood that get used on the bench or stuff that is drying or curing between visits to the bench. Here are a bunch of pictures I took during the past few months of various [...]
While traveling with my wife’s family we came across The Birds Of Vermont Museum. The museum was closed but we soon came across Bob Spear, the museum’s founder, coming back from a hike in the nearby woods. Mr. Spear kindly offered to open the museum for us and we were very happy not to have [...]
I have mentioned before that my shop is very small, what realtors would describe as “cozy.” I have enough room to comfortably work on three dulcimers at a time during the primary steps of construction. As the dulcimers come closer to completion I work on each one individually until it is time for the finishing [...]
As I end the day my hands show traces of shellac and oil varnish. This makes me happy. The subtle fragrance of a relatively non-toxic finish drying on a cherry dulcimer fills the air. Like many who appreciate and practice historic methods of work I read historic books on the subject. Paul N. Hasluck was [...]
Here are some photographs of things going on in the shop that have been cluttering up my hard drive. As a dulcimer maker I do a lot of fine, detailed work requiring extreme precision and accuracy. Perhaps this is why I love using a mallet! Here is my often used mallet resting on top of [...]
This post is inspired by a router bit that slipped in the chuck while working on a curly claro walnut and Adirondack spruce dulcimer this afternoon. When I saw the bit was tearing through the side of the dulcimer a sense of calm came over me. I turned off the router. I looked at the [...]
Some odds and ends I’ve gathered from here and there. Some of these ideas make sense. Some make some sense. Some I’m just not sure about.
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- I'm about to put binding on a dulcimer and will start making the peghead while the glue dries. Lutherie multitasking! 1 day ago
- Making sawdust. 2 days ago
- Just got back from a trip to the sawmill. I came home with some beautiful quartersawn cherry and walnut. 3 days ago
- I have a pile of odd dulcimer tops, sides and backs left over from resawing. None match the others. I'll make a patchwork dulcimer someday! 4 days ago
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