Saving a mature lady

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This topic has 19 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 9 months ago by Audrey Nickel.

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November 28, 2008 at 2:59 pm #162026

Liam M
Participant

Well I must apologise. It would seem a few aspiring amateur luthiers are dominating the forum, (Perhaps we need our own?).

Having apologised, here is my latest project.

Saving a fine mature lady.

Rince na Mear, (Thank you Audrey for the translation), is a thirty string Dreamsinger Trinity in Mahogany. “Rince” was found on craigslist at a very reasonable price. I was told she was playable and structurally sound, but blemished.

November 28, 2008 at 3:03 pm #162027

Liam M
Participant

Missed one or two shots that show the lifted varnish… Now you can see why I prefer Danish Oil… As it actually penetrates the wood and creates a new surface strata, this lifting does not occur.

November 28, 2008 at 4:25 pm #162028

unknown-user
Participant

Cat scratches?

November 28, 2008 at 5:07 pm #162029

Liam M
Participant

Hmmm… Unknown etiology, but I do not suspect cat.

Thankfully, there are not scratches in the actual wood itself. I suspect stored on her back and moisture trapping between the back and whatever she was lying on and destroying the varnish.

The varnish is quite thick… I suspect 10 coats or more. It is taking sometime to scrub it down with a mild stripping agent. I could go stronger, but I have the time and that is so risky. The underlying wood looks good.

November 28, 2008 at 8:09 pm #162030

Audrey Nickel
Participant

Ah…the poor, pretty thing!

November 29, 2008 at 6:29 pm #162031

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Liam,

Pretty harp.

November 29, 2008 at 10:32 pm #162032

Audrey Nickel
Participant

So here’s another question for all you folks who have finished a harp:

My husband is in the process of applying varnish to my Dreamsinger.

November 29, 2008 at 11:06 pm #162033

Audrey Nickel
Participant

For some reason Flickr isn’t letting me just copy the image location, but here are some links that illustrate what I’m trying to describe:

View 1:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32756104@N03/3068615599/in/set-72157610037071269/

View 2:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32756104@N03/3069454460/in/set-72157610037071269/

A view of the soundboard on the other side of the harp, for contrast:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32756104@N03/3069455194/in/set-72157610037071269/

November 29, 2008 at 11:46 pm #162034

Liam M
Participant

Oh my patience is not that vast. I am away from my shop all week, so I can only work on weekends and there are of course other demands… The Turbo Carrots for one, (My redheaded granchildren).

November 29, 2008 at 11:54 pm #162035

Liam M
Participant

Elementary My dear Watson!

November 30, 2008 at 12:28 am #162036

Audrey Nickel
Participant

Thanks!

It’s not a problem, then, that it appears to be slightly “inside” (for want of a better word) of the edge soundbox, compared to the rest of the soundboard?

November 30, 2008 at 1:16 pm #162037

Karen Johns
Participant

Audrey,

Did you bead the glue on rather thick? If it is a thick layer of glue that is showing up, you may want to resort to a wood filler to blend in the edge with the rest of the soundbox/board, if it is recessed and you can’t sand it away.

November 30, 2008 at 2:33 pm #162038

michael-rockowitz
Participant

Hello Audrey,

You might try this for a picture – turn off flash, turn on the close-up setting (I assume your camera has one – you should be able to shoot from

November 30, 2008 at 2:40 pm #162039

Liam M
Participant

You know Audrey I am not a total fan of mahogany, oh it should be easier to carve, but it simply appears too soft for my taste.

November 30, 2008 at 4:42 pm #162040

Audrey Nickel
Participant

It would be pronounced “KLAR-sokh” in Scottish Gaelic (the spelling “Clàrsach” is Scottish) or “KLAR-shokh” in Irish (the Irish word is spelled Cláirseach).
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