Ukulele Hut » Build-Make an Ukulele http://www.ukulelehut.com Your Ukulele Vacation Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:38:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Final Finishing of Ukulele http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/final-finishing-of-ukulele/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/final-finishing-of-ukulele/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:10:59 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=71
  • Finish sanding your ‘ukulele. Always with the grain.
  • Tape off fret board and bridge as desired.
  • Spray sanding sealer and finish on your ‘ukulele.
  • Install keys,nut, and bridge bone. The nut will be notched to hold strings in position.
  • String up your ‘ukulele.
  • Congratulations! Enjoy your ‘ukulele.

    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/final-finishing-of-ukulele/feed/ 0     Drilling of Holes for Ukulele Tuning Keys http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/drilling-of-holes-for-ukulele-tuning-keys/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/drilling-of-holes-for-ukulele-tuning-keys/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:09:38 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=69
  • Layout holes for keys.
  • Drill holes based on the diameter of your keys’ posts and bushings.

    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/drilling-of-holes-for-ukulele-tuning-keys/feed/ 0     Making of Fret Board and Ukulele Bridge http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/making-of-fret-board-and-ukulele-bridge/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/making-of-fret-board-and-ukulele-bridge/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:07:55 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=66
  • Draw center line on fret board. Place fret board in fretting jig with double stick tape and make sure saw cuts go to the full depth across the fret board.
  • Remove the fret board carefully from fretting template.
  • Lay fret board on neck over center line and trace shape of neck onto fret board.

  • Cut and sand edges of fret board to line and sand top surface of fret board smooth.


    Note:

    If you are going to put any fret markings on your fret board do it now before you install the fret wire.

  • Install fret wire onto fret board.

  • Sand off sharp edges of fret wire using edge sander.
  • Glue and center fret board and install on neck with clamps.
  • Shape and finish sanding of bridge.

  • Determine placement of holes to be drilled into the bridge for strings. Drill holes using drill press and bridge jig.
  • Glue on bridge at position determined by template. Measure from the nut to the 12th fret (about 8.5 inches). Then measure from the 12th fret to mark off the bridge (about 8.5 inches).
    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/making-of-fret-board-and-ukulele-bridge/feed/ 0     Finishing Ukulele Surface http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/finishing-ukulele-surface/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/finishing-ukulele-surface/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:02:06 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=62 Using various grits of sandpaper, sand body and neck making sure all scratches and excess glue are removed, e.g.. start with 100, then 150, 220 and 320. Always sand with the grain.




    ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/finishing-ukulele-surface/feed/ 0     Gluing on Back of ‘Ukulele http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-on-back-of-ukulele/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-on-back-of-ukulele/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:51:11 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=60
  • Place ‘ukulele on jig and clamp neck flat to jig.

  • Apply glue to edge of body including braces and blocks.
  • Centering back on body, sandwich and clamp ‘ukulele between work board and contoured back mold. Make sure top surface of neck and top surface of the sound board are in a straight line.
  • Allow to dry overnight.
  • Take off work board and contoured back mold. Put away clamps.
  • Use router to cut off excess veneer from the back of the ‘ukulele.
    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-on-back-of-ukulele/feed/ 0     Gluing in of Bottom Lining and Back Bracing http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-in-of-bottom-lining-and-back-bracing/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-in-of-bottom-lining-and-back-bracing/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:46:51 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=58
  • Make plywood jig that is width of the narrowest point on the sound board to hold the back in place.

  • Cut notches in lining where cross braces will be installed.
  • Glue in bottom lining~. using 1″ spring clamps. Make sure lining is glued in even with or slightly higher than the bottom edge of the side pieces when installed.
  • Cut and shape back braces for bottom and install in ‘ukulele. Back braces go in the narrowest and widest points.
  • After glue has dried, sand bottom of body (including blocks and bracing) using a sanding block. Keep in mind that the back is usually curved or bellied outward (convex). This is accomplished by the curves of the two back braces.
    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-in-of-bottom-lining-and-back-bracing/feed/ 0     Gluing on Sound Board of the ‘Ukulele http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-on-sound-board-of-the-ukulele/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-on-sound-board-of-the-ukulele/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:43:43 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=56
  • Leaving ‘ukulele in mold, line up the center line of neck with the center line of the tail block.
  • Find center line of sound board (glue joint).
  • Apply glue to top edge of body including lining and blocks.
  • Centering sound board on body, sandwich and clamp mold between two pieces of plywood. Make sure center line of sound board lines up with center line of neck tail joint.
  • Allow to dry overnight.
  • Remove ‘ukulele from mold.
  • Use router to cut off excess veneer from the sound board of the ‘ukulele.

  • Glue in bridge brace or fan bracing.



    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/gluing-on-sound-board-of-the-ukulele/feed/ 0     Glue in Top Lining and Top Braces http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/glue-in-top-lining-and-top-braces/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/glue-in-top-lining-and-top-braces/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:38:41 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=54
  • Cut notches in lining where cross bracing will be installed.

  • Glue in top lining only using 1 ” spring clamps. Make sure lining is glued in even with or slightly higher than the top edge of the side pieces when installed.
  • Cut and shape cross braces for Top and install in ‘ukulele. (Top only.)

  • After glue has dried, sand top of body (including blocks and bracing) flat for accepting sound board.
    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/glue-in-top-lining-and-top-braces/feed/ 0     Installing Neck onto Ukulele Body http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/installing-neck-onto-ukulele-body/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/installing-neck-onto-ukulele-body/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:35:34 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=52
  • Using neck jig, clamp on neck based on thickness of sound board.
  • Using pilot drill, drill three holes in triangle shape through the neck block into neck. Wax screws, apply glue to neck, and secure neck to body with the screws.
    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/installing-neck-onto-ukulele-body/feed/ 0     Sanding and Shaping of Ukulele Sound Board and Back http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/sanding-and-shaping-of-ukulele-sound-board-and-back/ http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/sanding-and-shaping-of-ukulele-sound-board-and-back/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:33:17 +0000 admin http://www.ukulelehut.com/music/?p=49
  • Run sound board and back through thickness sander to obtain desired thickness, e.g. .070″ thickness.
  • Sand sound board and back with palm sander to remove all scratches using 120 and 220 grit. Sand in the direction of the grain.
  • Using template (Concert, Tenor, Baritone), layout shape of ‘ukulele on the sound board and back.
  • Remove template and draw a second outer line approximately 1/2″ to 3/4″ around the ‘ukulele’s shape.
  • Measure to center of sound hole and drill the sound hole using circle saw carefully on the drill press.
  • Glue on reinforcing pieces for sound hole and glue joint.
    • ]]>     http://www.ukulelehut.com/build-make-an-ukulele/sanding-and-shaping-of-ukulele-sound-board-and-back/feed/ 0