Day 48: What a Geat life, Indeed.

Lox and bagels. Really, how can the day go wrong after this for second breakfast? Which was really nice because I rode to the shop in the rain. This isn't the worst thing on the planet or that I've done in my life, but, still, it is pretty tough to get into a good mood when my ass-crack is filled with water before my second cup of tea!

We got my instrument under the go-bar press, and this is a huge step in getting the instrument done. And there was a good lesson in the process because there were some problems with my machine that should have been fixed already. So we made an accord: if I see something wrong I will be proactive in fixing it or, at the least, bringing it to Dwain's attention. But I think that he wants me to have more autonomy in my work. I have so many questions about what i'm doing, but I agree with him. I need to be independent while still relying on his expertise.

There is a tremendous amount of pressure that is put onto the top, which is necessary to get the top glued on without any separation.  I kind of feel like the top of my machine. Not that I'd like being forced to live in a place that I don't want, nothing like that, but I do feel pressure. I want so much to succeed and make pretty looking and great sounding dulcimers. I'm working hard to get the processes, and Dwain is working hard make sure I get the information. So I'm on my way!

This girl asked tonight if I went to Niagara Falls yet. Well no, I said. She said what kind of idiot comes all the way up here and doesn't go to Niagara Falls. It wasn't even a question. Her head cocked to one side and her eyebrows lifted; she just said it. So I'll find a way to get up there, and I'll bring my passport because she said the Canadian side is better--whatever that means.

A really important thing that I'm doing while here is talking about stuff to buy to make a good shop. I'm going to need a template so that I can consistently make a good fretboard. I'm going to need stuff that is going to cost a lot of money, like a band saw. But I'm also learning that I can save a lot of money by making my own stuff, like a go-bar deck. I can buy one at stewmac.com for $450, wood and base not included. I can also make one for less than $50.

Val said we need to save, and every dollar counts. And she mows the yard now--but never on rainy days, dear! She is working hard to make this happen, so I have to work hard at it, too. I get to see her in a couple of weeks!

I finished milling down one of the bookmatch sets, and then I planed it to a nice finish. I milled down the others too, and it took about two hours. So they will be ready to go when Dwain needs them. He has really been working lately. Not that he was slacking before, but he is as busy in the shop as I've seen him. Dwain is an active activist, and he's got a big direct action event that he's helping to put together for when the UN meets in New York City soon. So he's busy.


I then worked on the peghead for the new machine, and this is really my peghead and tailblock. As you can see I truly do have four peg holes. It is really nice to work along side of Dwain. We are literally doing the same things at the same time. Dwain will show me what he's doing and then let me go work on mine. He is working on another instrument, too.

There was a lot of scraping to get a nice finish on the peghead. This one is very different than the first one in that I am going to carve a scroll into the peghead.

The only carving I did today, though, was the peg box. The process seems pretty simple, but it ain't. It is pretty tough to get all of the marks on there to keep it centered, lined up, and carve out only so much wood from exactly there.


But today really was fun, and the wood with which I'm working is beautiful! What a great life, indeed.