Bending jig in the making

Everything has to happen during short bursts of activity, since my kids need attention. In the background you can see my dad teaching my son to sharpen knives, while I'm glueing parts together.

Mistake

Wood. A very good reason to love MDF. Hopefully it won't affect the result too much. I got scared though, had I been slightly more careless I would have had fewer fingers to play the uke with.

Router

With the templates screwed on, I use a router to get the parts identical. This proved to be both dangerous and difficult.

Jigs

Rough cut with a jigsaw. Haven't bought a bandsaw yet, and I'll have to cope without one.

Template 2

Phew.

Template 1

Making templates for bending jig.

It happens.

After waiting 3 months, I finally get to start building.

Drawing

Designing my tenor using CAD software. I must have looked on 1000 ukes on the internet, so the design is not really my own.

Wood 4

For some reason someone has traced the contour of a jumbo-sized uke on the board. With a bit of luck, each piece should be enough for one soprano and one tenor. 12 ukes...

Wood 3

Grain seems tight and good. This is cedar.

Wood 2

Also some basswood for kerfing.

WOOD 1!

At last and finally! Today my soundboards arrived.

Tools 3

My son was very happy with the result, and immediatly claimed the best one. No time for spool clamps this weekend, unfortunately.

Tools 2

Nearly done

Tools

Fingerplanes in the making

Uke shop

Workshop, with dad in the background.

More stuff

This will become 35 spoolclamps. Notice the cute little square I found.

First wood

African mahogany for back and sides. A bit thin, but I'll manage if I'm careful.

Uke preparation

New drillpress

Uke at eight o'clock

Li plays my Brueko before bedtime.

Uke 10

My son made a label. He's very proud of it.

Uke 9

Detail

Uke 8

Done.

Uke 7

Ok, so I got some help.

Uke 6

Fretted neck and body.

Uke 5

Bracing the spruce top

Uke 4

Glueing bottom. My son in the background.

Uke 3

Glueing braces, for arched bottom

Uke 2

Reducing the maple bottom w a chisel, and then a belt sander.

Uke kit

Contents of the box

Johan 070707

Vi hittar en stubbe där ekorrar ätit kottar.