Number 6 and 7

I'm working on two amplified cigar box guitars.  I bought a couple of transducers and jacks from radio shack and put them in the cigar boxes, creating a small piezo pickup.  The little guitars really rock out'  The sound coming from the amplifier is rich and full.  The guitars are tuned in an open tuning such as 'G'  ( G,D,G ).  Here is one completed. 

Number Five

I recently finished a cigar box guitar that was ordered from my etsy store.  The guitar was shipped to Australia on Thursday.  I always put a polyurethane finish on the boxes to keep the paper decals in tack.

Hawaiian Style

Here's some images of a cigar box ukulele I just finished.  These things are a blast too make and better yet'- they work really well.  If you try making one please send me an image, I'd love to see it.  The tuning pegs are from a company called Stewart MacDonald  www.stewmac.com. 

CBG'S The Finale'

Here is the CBG finished and ready to be shipped to New Brunswick, Canada.  I always enjoy making these cigar box guitars.  Episode four of the show " The Garage" is about making a cigar box guitar.  Please send me an email if you're interested in a copy of that episode and I'll send you a copy.  Please send me an image if you make one so I can post it on the blog.  I'd love to see it'

More CBG's

The two guitars are drying after having a coat of polyurethane applied.  The yellow one has a small piezo

pickup in it so it can be hooked up to an amplifier.  You can see the output jack in the bottom right hand corner.  The bridge for the guitars area simple bolt.  The bolt  head holds the strings at the appropriate angle and the threads of the bolt keep the strings aligned.  Simple yet efficient.  The tuning pegs are staggered so

that the strings don't interfere with each other

CBG'S The Sequel

Here I've cut the notches to fit the thickness of the cigar box lids.  The notches are cut in the boxes to fit the neck and fret boards.  I drill sound holes of various sizes using a forstner bit.  I apply a bead of glue on the

 box and the mahogany and let it sit for an hour.

Next I'll work the neck and drill for the tuning pegs.  I add a small strip of rosewood to help with wear and tear where the strings protrude through.  The nut for the guitar is made out of a piece of bacote.  I then finish the guitar with a couple of coats of polyurethane. 

 

CBG's continued

I use stacked dado blades to cut the notches ( rabbets ) in the cigar boxes and on the mahogany.  The mahogany is an 1 5/8 " wide and 3/4 " thick so I have to cut to notches in the boxes to accommodate the mahogany.  I then have to cut a notch ( rabbets ) in the mahogany to accommodate the thickness of the cigar box lid.  A tight fit is very important.  The joinery is simple but if it is sloppy it will affect the strength and integrity of the guitar and it could fall apart when you string it up.

CBG'S

This week I started working on four cigar box guitars ( CBG'S )  Two of them are commissioned pieces.  One is going to Quebec and the other to Australia.  The two yellow ones have a piezo style pickup in them.  I made the pick ups out of parts I got from radio shack.  The main joinery for the guitars is a rabbet joint.  I make the neck and fret boards out of some old mahogany I have but a harder material such as poplar or maple would be better.

You never know

You never know what you'll be asked to make for someone.  I've been doing some small work on a trailer lately.  I was asked to make an angled piece ( flange) for the trailers air conditioner to sit on.  The piece is made out of PVC plastic used for decking and exteriors.  Nothing glamorous here, just glued and screwed together.  Oh well- it helps pay the bills.

Trailer doors

I finally finished the doors for the trailer.  Here they are stained, finished and ready to be hung.  I have another small job for the trailer and then it's on to the cigar box guitars and a bread side table.

A little finishing

There isn't a lot to report lately.  I 've been spending most of my time fixing up and winterizing the garage.  I'm installing the last of the drawers in the trailer tomorrow.  Here I'm matching the stain color of the original cabinets and staining a hardwood filler strip.  Hopefully the project will be done tomorrow.

The Garage. The Sequel

I'm still working on insulating and setting up the garage.  All of the walls are done.  I have to do the remainder of the ceiling and the seal some cracks where the cold gets in.  I moved my big bench in and tuned up the table saw.  I'll be working on a couple of cigar box guitars soon.

Cigar Box Comissions

Lately I've been getting orders for cigar box guitars.  I have sold two in the last two weeks from my etsy store, one from Quebec and the other to Australia.  Awesome.  I am near completing the garage.  I think I'll move my big workbench in so I have a small place to tinker at my convenience, I'm sure Liesl's Dad will appreciate it, I have a lot of stuff taking up room in his space.   I'm grateful for being able to use his space.

Are we there yet?

Today I fitted the drawers to the island cabinet in the trailer.  The doors need a strip on them and that is it, done.  Happy Thanksgiving''''

Trailer re-do'

Here is an image of the trailer I'm working in lately.  I'm refacing the cabinets and making the drawers for others.  Lenny and Gail winter in Texas so I have to finish the job soon.  I'll be in tomorrow finishing and fitting the last drawer.  I'll post images of the interior soon.

Vicki's Chair

Last Saturday our friends Glen, Danasa and their Daughter Vicki came up for a visit.  Glen brought along a beautiful, minimal chair he had just made for Vicki.  Glen used boards of mahogany and maple that he salvaged and reclaimed from a table.  The joinery consist mostly of stop dados.  The boards of mahogany are all single plank pieces.  The chair looks beautiful.  The seat is off center so that when you flip the chair over it is higher to accomadate the child as they grow. Great job Glen'

The Garage Continues

Last evening I insulated and sealed another part of the garage and was able to move my bookcase full of Cd's into the space.  This is my true source of inspiration, music'.  Not much left to do, mostly the ceiling.

Garage Ceiling

Yesterday I insulated and put up sheathing on the ceiling of the garage.  Not an easy task to do by yourself'.  I finished half of the ceiling and put up a few posters for inspiration.  The garage is coming along quite nicely and I can feel the difference in temperature already.

Garage stuff

Lately I've been spending more time working on getting the garage ready for winter.  Most of the walls are insulated and sealed.  Now it's working on the ceiling.  I have a commission for a cigar box guitar and a bread side table as well as some cabinet drawers, so keep watching and I'll have some post about making those soon.
Thanks always for checking in'

Steve

Inspiration

Liesl, Quinn and I have lived in our new place for only three months now.  We are busy getting ready for winter, etc.  I haven't spent a lot of time making furniture but I'm always on the look out for cool objects that I can turn into projects.  Not far from where we live is a place called the Bernat Mills Antique outlet.  Today we went there and found this awesome modern chair.  Actually Liesl found it, I guess my minimalist aesthetic is rubbing off on her.  We bought this chair for $18.00, a steal.  It fits in perfectly in our house as well as it is a great source of inspiration.

More Insulation and Plywood

For the last few days and evenings ( essentially when I have spare time) I've been working on insulating the garage attached to the house.  This will give me a small space to do some extra work close to home  as well as help cut the heating cost for the house.  Our landlord has graciously agreed to pay for materials.  I also got a comission from him retro fitting some drawers in his kitchen cabinets of his trailor. I insulated the walls and then attached OSV/flake board to the walls and covered the seams with furring strips.  I can feel the difference already.

Insulation

Nothing exciting to report.  I'm insulating the walls and ceiling of the garage.  It's attached to the house so hopefully it'll help keep the heating bill low.

Something old; something new.

Last weekend I replaced an old cellar door for my friend Patt.  I brought the old door home.  Attached to the door was all of the old hardware.  Big old hinges and an awesome handle and door latch.  I'll keep the hardware and use it on another project.  The door is made from old pine tongue and groove boards and painted.  It is white and blue on one side an a beautiful aged green on the other.  I have a project I'm doing for the show.  It's a round cafe table.  I think I'll use the old door for the top.  It's perfect'.  What a great way to bring new life to this old door.