Building and learning how to play a ukulele

snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Hey all,
So, I have always wanted to learn how to build a musical instrument and I found a great opportunity from a catalog that I order some woodworking supplies from. I purchased a mahogany ukulele build kit with an Indian rosewood fretboard. It's not from scratch, but pretty close to it. I know some pretty good woodworking and finishing techniques that I will be putting to the test. I just wanted to basically start this thread to kinda document the ukulele build and finishing and then maybe post a video of the first song or two that I learn how to play. A fun thread.
The kit comes in the mail tomorrow and I have a buddy that also ordered the kit. He doesn't know anything about woodwork at all.... so I will be building my uke and then teaching him how to. (so he probably gets the better one.)
I will probably be upgrading to the concert uke though in the future if learning the uke is as easy as I think it is.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
LOL...for a fellow with very little spare time, you sure do manage to find time consuming stuff to do. I wish I had a fourth of your energy, and get up and go...You know the rules...you have to post pictures of your project, or it didn't happen.
 
D

dragonzim

Active Member
Good thing you're already marred since you may have picked the one instrument other than the accordian that will be guarenteed to NOT get you women!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Lol. Sorry dragon. Ive just been stressed a little lately.
I am well aware of "my ukulele gently weeps." There are tons of really awesome players out there and from youtube videos it looks really easy to start strumming. My tracking number said that i just had it delivered to my home. Ill take some pics tonight of the kit. Probably wont have time to work on it today though.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
So this evening i sanded it down with 150 grit sandpaper and then 220 grit and rubbed it down with an alcohol cloth to make the wood grains stand up. The. I went back over it twice more with some 320 grit sandpaper each with a wipe down. I did not sand down the fret board however. I attached anf glued and clamped the neck to the body with rubber bands and attached the fret board to the neck using rubber bands and a broken paint stick. In the morning i can do a final sanding and wiping. More than likely i will put a coat of stain on it and let it dry outside on a coat hanger while im at work tomorrow. In this heat it should dry pretty quickly.
Tomorrow evening the stain should be completely dry so i will put a coat of sand and sealer on it, taping off the bridge and saddle portion so i dont get any on it. I can work on finishing it thursday morning in time for a family get together for the fourth of july! Woohoo!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
So this morning instead of staining it i decided to mount the bridge first and let it dry. The reason is because i wanted the glue to have a clean surface for it to have a proper seal. When i get home i am wiping the whole thing down with alcohol to raise the grain one more time and sanding it down with 320 grit sandpaper and wiping it down with some denatured alcohol to clean it of all dust before brushing on the sand and sealer.
I should have it done by this weekend at least.
This little project has me thinking about building a solid mahogany concert uke from scratch. It seems like it can be done with tools and materials that i already have. Who knew being a luthier was so much fun.
I have iphone pics that i will upload if photobucket cooperates.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator

It's still early here to start harvesting but I have gathered some beet greens and Zucchini blossoms.
When does planting season start there?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I start my tomatoes in a cold frame as early as february. I plant mid to late march to harden them off some. Growth spurts usually occur when the temps stay above 75*F continuously. That usually goes for tomatoes, bells, peppers, squash etc.
I plant my cantelope and watermelon in May-june. My onions usually go in january. This year ill be planting spinach, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, potatoes and sweet potatoes in october-november.
Basically we have a 10-12 month planting season.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I sanded everything down for the last time and stained it with english chestnut stain. Its a lot darker of a stain on mahogany than it was on red oak. Though, i still havent had to buy a single thing yet besides the kit.
I usually wait 24 hours before putting a sand and seal on a wood, but its been hanging up in the direct sun for a few hours now and feels dry to the touch. I know it is possible to go abead and sand and seal it within a few hours after staining.
I bought new strings for it. The nylon strings in the kit didnt really seem to be that great of quality. Since a uke is a stringed instrument, i feel like the strings are one of the most important componants. Anyways, im hoping that better strings means better sound.
 
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