Day 42: A Four Band-Aid Day.

 It was a good start to the day, in that the ride was pretty pleasant today. It was a little bit wet, but the sun was shining bright. Since I think that the bike riding is making me run faster I'm making myself work harder when I'm riding, so I'm getting there much quicker than I was when I was just riding to get there.

Dwain was opening the shop when I got there. We spent a few minutes in the shop before having breakfast. We had cereal, flax seed, fresh fruit, and yogurt. We talked about shop stuff. More glue. I did some homework last night. If you want to have some fun then go to this web site: titebond glue. Over on the right-hand side are three places where you can make a selection. I was playing with the "Select Application." Who knew there was such a web site? So we were discussing what I found and what Dwain thought. Dwain talked about the specific glues he uses and their applications--including bad glues.

I had to glue in the center braces using a wood glue. Then I had to put heavy weights on them to keep them down. Dwain has a set-up for that too. I know I've said this before, but this is one of the reasons that my time with Dwain is so valuable. The life stuff is pretty good, too.

Once my center braces were drying away, I added the top braces, which includes where the sound holes will live. And we then talked a bit about sound holes, and he likes the idea of using our logo. So I'll draw it out and save it. I'm not sure how it will get on the wood, but I have a pretty good idea. Exciting times!

Dwain is working away on his own project, and I helped him get his out of the mold today. That was the first time that I've seen a double bout (the hips and the shoulders) come out of the mold, so it was fun and informative. I love learning!

I put my iPad in Dwain's instrument and took a picture. The pictures look cool from this perspective. I think they look like boats--I took pictures of mine too.

Dwain used to build ships. I don't know how many he's done, but I've seen one that lives in the shop. I cannot tell you how many tree nails are in that thing. But there are a bunch, and they are all lined up as if they were the real deal, which they are for a model--but you know what I'm saying. I don't think I have the patience for that. I love to work with wood, and some of my favorite things to build are kinetic toys that are a bit bumpkin. I was thinking today as I was inspecting my instrument that I will have a lot of fun making boxes and bases for my toys. I really feel some artwork coming because of this discovery. I can see some wooden tanks that do something horrific, like running over someone.

Like I said yesterday, there is a lot of data that Dwain keeps when building his machines so that he can replicate a thing that he likes or needs. Today I learned some new measurements that are necessary for the top braces, which directly effect the sound holes. It will take me building several instruments for me to get all of the processes down. I'm really thankful that I get to watch Dwain work on his own instruments alongside of me doing my own.

When starting a new step in the building, Dwain will normally tell me what we are going to do, give me a demonstration, and always be ready for an observation or to answer a question. He really is a good teacher for me.

After the bottom assembly had all of its braces and linings it was time to carve the fiddle edges. You can see it coming, can't you? So the carving is done with a knife, gouges and chisels. Dwain suggested carving with both hands to work on using both. No problem with that because I do it in my art making often. So cut away I did. I started with cleaning up the seams where the ribs meet the peg box and tail block.

At first I was using just a scraper, but that was not working out too well on either end of the machine, and I created some bumps that had to be planed out using sand paper.

It ended up being a four band-aid day. I cut my index finger with both a gouge and a chisel, and I sliced my thumb with both the knife and the fiddle edge of my machine. The wood cut  was the toughest to stop the bleeding. But the knife one was a really close second. I then started bleeding on my instrument, and that would have been tough to get out. I hope I wiped it all off! Did you see the "Red Violin"? You'd chuckle if you had, and if you didn't I recommend it highly.

So four band-aids and a taped up paper towel finally stopped all of the bleeding. But hey! I have a fiddle edge on one side.

There was a process of planing down the edge using these little planes that are used in model making. The fiddle edge should be a semi-circle like shape, and he showed me how to do that. But that is where we left off with the instrument, and I'm excited to work on it again tomorrow. There are other things that need to happen, like finish milling down the black walnut backs.

We shared a meal together. We were supposed to have Chinese food, but when we got to the restaurant it was closed. There was a diner just down the road that we'd eaten at before. It is American food but cooked in an Asian style--S.W. Asia is all I can tell about the cooks who are cooking away.

We talked about what is going on when we are not working together. It was nice to have some time out of the shop with him.

Then he went over to the Zen Center to get zen centered, and dropped me and the bike off there. The Center is only a few blocks from here, so it was not big deal. I've run around this part of the city enough to know where I'm at when I'm there--except when I don't!