I was looking at lots of photos of viols when I came up with this design. Instrument will be made from local cherry.
More refinement (upper right)
Approaching final shape (lower right)
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Dulcimer - Building Pictures |
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Click on pictures to see larger images |
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Dulcimer was designed in TurboCAD. This is a render of the
3D model. I was looking at lots of photos of viols when I came up with this design. Instrument will be made from local cherry. |
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Paper pattern from CAD used for cutting out the scroll. | |
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Scroll piercing was roughed out on drill press then cleaned up with small rasps, files, chisels and sandpaper. | |
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Partially shaped scroll
(left) More refinement (upper right) Approaching final shape (lower right) |
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This fixture was used to hold the peghead square while sawing out the profile of the block that the sides will be glued to. | |
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This is a lousy picture of the mold blank that the dulcimer body will be assembled around. | |
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Here is the start of assembly of the parts. The peghead and tail block are held to the mold with bolts. The corner blocks are glued to the mold and will be cut free later. In this picture the lower part of the body that wraps around the tail has been shaped and is clamped to the mold. | |
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The sides are all glued in place now. Next linings will be added to provide more gluing surface for the the top and back. | |
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The assembly is free of the mold. Top linings are in place. The piece of walnut laying across the top will be the fret board. Tuners are temporarily in place to see how they fit up. | |
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Redwood top has been attached. The fretboard is mostly finished, but it's not glued to the top yet | |
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I made this base for the Proxxon tool to rout channels to inlay violin purfling. | |
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Here the purfling has just been glued in. I cut a small tooth into the bit of saw blade shown to clean out the purfling channel and to bring it to final size. The Monoject 412 syringe was used to apply the glue into the purfling channel. The chunk of UHWM plastic was used to press the purfling in the channel. | |
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Detail of unfinished top showing purfling and fretboard inlay. | |
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Saddle end of fret board showing my recessed pins for loop end strings. The brass pins are fitted into a block of hard maple. Slot for saddle will be located and cut after final assembly when instrument can be strung up with a dummy saddle. | |