Wire harps and sound holes

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This topic has 49 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 5 months ago by Audrey Nickel.

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October 31, 2008 at 8:37 pm #162114

Liam M
Participant

Typical engineer, I was uncomfortable with the paired stringing concept for the simple reason of the loss of string when you pop one.

October 31, 2008 at 8:52 pm #162115

Audrey Nickel
Participant

Same here.

November 5, 2008 at 11:04 pm #162116

Liam M
Participant

Quick tip Audrey… I just found a product last month that is wonderful!

Hard As Hoof

November 6, 2008 at 7:32 am #162117

Audrey Nickel
Participant

I’ll have to check it out!

November 7, 2008 at 12:31 am #162118

Liam M
Participant

It has not arrived yet and I am traveling. Knowing myself I will look at it for days before I decide how to treat it.

I am looking forward to it though!

I am finding though I have a much pleasure, if not more in building, as I do in playing… And someday I have a very radical idea I will try.

November 20, 2008 at 10:15 pm #162119

Audrey Nickel
Participant

Did you round off the edge where your soundboard meets the soundbox, or leave it square? (Tony’s finished the initial rough sanding, and now we’re refining things).

Audrey

November 20, 2008 at 11:04 pm #162120

Karen Johns
Participant

Audrey,

Don’t mean to jump in, but when I built my Limerick I rounded off both sides of the soundboard. Easier on the arms when playing, hard square edges tend to chafe…On a side note, are you set on using brass strings? Mine are steel and not only are they stronger, they have a beautiful tone. In my opinion they are a nice alternative.

Good luck, can’t wait to see it finished!

Karen

November 21, 2008 at 1:31 am #162121

Audrey Nickel
Participant

Yes, I definitely want brass.

November 21, 2008 at 3:03 am #162122

Liam M
Participant

Audrey I did not round off and actually do not recommend it. The joint I do not believe would survive it and your board should be looking at ~500lb. of total tension.

November 21, 2008 at 6:37 am #162123

Audrey Nickel
Participant

I’m remaining flexible about stringing (one thing I’m learning about the wire-strung harp is that adaptability and experimentation are going to be part of my life from now on!).

November 21, 2008 at 12:06 pm #162124

Liam M
Participant

LOL!!

November 21, 2008 at 3:03 pm #162125

Audrey Nickel
Participant

Here’s a woodworking question I hope you can help us with.

Tony’s finished the initial, heavy sanding and is now working his way down with lighter grades of sandpaper.

November 21, 2008 at 3:57 pm #162126

Karen Johns
Participant

Is he sanding with the grain of the wood? What grade sandpaper is he on now? I had trouble with this too, especially with the Limerick, which is walnut. Lots of swirly knots in this wood made it hard to sand with the grain.

Karen

November 21, 2008 at 5:26 pm #162127

Audrey Nickel
Participant

Yes, he is sanding with the grain…I’m not sure what grade of sandpaper he’s on now, though…I can ask him this evening.

We have a similar issue re the knots…there aren’t many, but they do seem to make the sanding harder

November 21, 2008 at 7:38 pm #162128

Karen Johns
Participant

Sanding really is the “bear” of the whole process, in my opinion. I actually finished off my Voyageur with 500 grit (used for metal) sandpaper and it literally polished the wood. Maybe the scratches he is uncovering might be from an earlier coarse grit? I’m no expert wordworker, but I did discover that little scratches disappear when the finish is applied. If you can catch your fingernail in it, though, you’re going to want to sand those out.

Karen
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