On we go with harp

Here are today's progress photos. Each step is shown with the tools that were used

 First the mallet and gouge

 Then the spokeshave

Next the rasp.
This was followed by hand sanding with 120, 180, and 220 grit. When the parts are ready to apply the finish I'll raise the grain, sand with 320 (lightly) and probably dye the wood to bring the heartwood and sapwood into the same color realm.

More harp progress

Things are moving apace. The pillar is pretty well done. I might do some further detailing if I get feeling frisky.

I hung it up to keep it from being damaged by debris on the bench. The only hard object that might hit it here is my head.

Also accomplished are the brass cheek bands. Sawing them out was excruciating as I didn't have a proper saw blade. The cheek bands are set into the neck.

As soon as I get the delivery of tuning pins I can drill and ream the neck and drill out the cheek bands. Then I can start shaping the neck.

In the meantime, down at Maine's First Ship....

I have been volunteering on this project for four or five years. Last winter I made the main mast, mizzen mast and a couple of spars. In January I was asked to build the rudder. It's BIG! The rudder post is 13' long, the rudder itself is about 8" high and 3-1/2' wide and averages 10" thick - all white oak. I figure it weighs about 1100 lbs.



(Note the work environment. What you see in the background is the Kennebec River, which always has a refreshing breeze in the afternoon - especially in the winter)



A big rudder needs a long tiller. We split this out with wedges then refined the shape with a variety of hand and power tools, following the grain as much as possible.

It's a little over 9' long - the forward end has to clear the mizzen which limits the length.

First inlay reinforcement in

There is an adage amongst luthiers and boatbuilders" you can NEVER have too many clamps!

The inside reinforcement strip is glued and clamped - four layers of walnut about 3/4" x 3/4" altogether.

Speaking of boats I've been volunteering on a replica of the Virginia, also known as Maine's First Ship. The original was built the winter of 1607-1608, returned to England and in 1610 sailed to Jamestown. For the last month or so I've been working on the rudder.

When it's finished the rudder will be 7'-6" high, 3'-6" wide averge about 10" thick and weigh about 1100lbs. It's the antithesis of lutherie. Note the work environment. The rudder is too big to built in the boathouse, as was the mast. I get to work outside all winter. It's a good thing I'm a volunteer. They couldn't pay me enough to work in these conditions.
There are lots of good photos on the Maine's First Ship web site  We are scheduled to launch on June 7.

The pillar continues...

This is the front cavity for the reinforcing strips. I want these to be as inconspicuous as possible, hence the "M" cut on the end. This is where the point of the pillar shield will be.
I have put a coat of shellac to prevent glue stains.

More harp progress

Things are starting to take shape. Progress has been delayed because I have been improving the dust collector. This week I got the disk sander, router/shaper, belt sander, spindle sander, and thickness planer all connected. Next up is the table saw. I'm still cogitating on a reasonably easy and effective way to do that. But on to the harp!




There is short grain at both ends of the pillar which is an inherent weakness in the pillar - and the neck. When I built the Pemaquid harp I was able to find a branch on the tree with the right curve. That's not going to happen with milled lumber so I am reinforcing the neck and pillar with inset laminations. Here the channel has been cut on the inside. The rounded corners are to provide clearance for the slot cutter, The neck is three times the final inside width.

I cut some walnut laths to use for the laminations. Walnut doesn't like to bend so I have clamped it on a form to prebend it (I hope) I am doing this dry because I don't want to introduce any moisture into the instrument.

Pillar and neck adventures.
I laid out the pillar on the 16/4 walnut, planed a side smooth and cut it out on the bandsaw.


Looks good, doesn't it?







I hate surprises like this! There's a big old dead knot hiding inside.

There might be just enough stock left to dodge around the knots in the other piece.

I don't know - that's pretty close to the other nasty knot.

Success! It looks good. There is just a bit of a small knot on one edge but it will go away in the final shaping of the pillar.

After a bit of resawing and some time on the thickness planer we have to neck and pillar cut to outline and of a proper thickness. Next time it will be smoothing the curved surfaces and cutting the slot for the reinforcing laminations.

Well here it is - 2020. The new year brings another luthier project. This time a commission for a wire-strung harp inspired by the Lamont harp. I say "inspired" because the client wants four additional strings and a mirror image of the original. The Lamont may be the oldest extant harp in the world. There is a date inside of 1457.  Fortunately a woman named Loomis did her masters and doctoral theses about the two harps in the Scottish National Museum and there are 500 pages of extremely detailed information, including MRI scans of the harps so we can see the joinery, which has heretofore not been possible

 Here is the wood I chose for the harp. The client is concerned about too much high frequency, so maple and cherry were out as  possibilities. Willow, which is the original harp, can't be found in the dimensions needed. I was fortunate to get these two pieces of black walnut.

 There is still a use for carbon paper in this modern world. The drawing is full scale.

 Here is the result of the carbon paper tracing.

After going over the tracing with a white pencil I can see better for the next step.