Teachers desk makes the ideal workstation

Making bridge blanks with cross vice

Main Shop Space

Cutting red coral on a curve for rosette inlay

Good dust control is vital

Black Acacia rounds. These will be cut up with a chainsaw into manageable pieces before slicing into backs and sides

Bending iron made from steel pipe and electric barbecue charcoal starter.

I found a silver acacia log in a roadside ditch. After cutting into it I liked it so much I went back with my chainsaw and got the rest of the tree.

Wicking thin CA glue into rosette.

Debarking black acacia rounds. If you don’t take the bark off it will kill your bandsaw blades

Sanding and planing station. I don’t use the planer much for building ukuleles.

Three necks awaiting lacquer

Sealing the ends with Anchor Seal to keep it from checking. It’s best to cut many of the woods into thin sets as soon as possible.

Measuring Top Deflection

We builders end up making a lot of our own tools. This is temperature controller I made for side bending.

Radius sanding disk. Put it over the center of iron pipe at left and give it a spin.

Red Coral Blanks for future inlays.

Glueing End Blocks To Sides

Preparing To Cut The Rosette and Rosette Channel at the same time

Final Setting of Frets With Press

Simple Jig For Compound Radius Fretboards

Shop Made Bending Iron with Precise Temp Control

Sides in The Bender with Metal  Slats and Heating Blanket

Installing kerfed linings.

Glueing Top To Sides With GoBar Deck

Starting Frets With Brass Hammer

Wet Sanding Headstock Prior To Buffing

All Original Artwork and Photographs © Copyright 2016 Michael F Smith  All rights reserved