Don't ask why - it's just a project for fun, but I'm making a cardboard (maybe later switch to laminate) ukulele.... out of wood salvaged from a broken chair....
I just saw this chair in the garbage area at my apartment and it looked clean, had some nice straight bits of wood and I just had to try it out...
I'm making the fretboard out of a peice of wood that is too thick, the neck out of a single piece of cheap who knows what wood and I'm using some cool ribs from the back to give a gentle slope to the sides. it's kind of a cross between a Paddle shaped uke and a Cigar Box uke. It will look like a cross between an Ovation uke and an asymmetrical Fluke/Flea and it will be a special blend of 6 strings. Two in pair and two single.
Now I understand that when making an instrument, the joins are generally made with glue, not nails or screws or anything, so here's the trick. It's got to be a darned fine glue.
Further, I'm going to be adding a tiny bit of tension on the sides, so it will need to have some strength (yes, I will brace it structurally, but stilll...)
Places where I will use the glue - body joins, bridge/saddle, fretboard to neck, all other joins where wood meets cardboard (or maybe laminated wood if I can get it supercheap). I am strongly considering using purfling at a couple of the cardboard to wood joins to add just a tiny bit of tension.
Additionally, there are a number of holes, a couple of small cracks and things in the non-visible areas of the main center wood. I need to fill these so they don't affect the sound. I have already drilled them out (like filling a cavity), but I don't know which glue to use.
So I have three choices available locally and the fourth choice is yet unknown.
Choice #1. Wood-specific superglue.
Choice #2. Wood-specific Scotch glue.
Choice #3. Wood-specific 2-part Epoxy.
Choice #4 - THANKS!
At this point, it looks like the glue may be the most expensive part of the uke! the tuners are some lovely Mother of Pearl/gold plated slot style tuners that were given to me for free from my local shop. Just needed a thorough cleaning....
:)
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