Woodworking Wednesdays: Farewell "Corocoro"

We are back with Woodworking Wednesdays! The recap of a week of work in the workshop. In this entry we'll see what happened to the commissioned project that was pending.

Back home

Each time I go back to the workshop of my master, I feel like there's something new to learn. It's like going back to school if school only had the things you like. I was on a quick visit since I needed to finish a project and do some work on others.

So we go hands to work and I could get space for the bindings and purflings in two instruments. It was quick work with a router.

But of course the main course was getting varnish of two instruments. That's was the whole goal of my visit. Once this wes done, I left the instruments there so the varnish could dry properly before going back the next day to pick them up.

A dose of adrenaline

Getting the bridge on the instrument is not for the faint of heart. You need to scrape the varnish on one section of the instrument so the glue can work properly. It is the closest thing to surgery that luthiers do. Once we take care of this, we can move on to the gluing of the bridge. This is a crucial step as it needs at least 24 hours. Applying tension to this piece before that happens night end in a bridge coming off. And that isn't good!

Why adrenaline then? Well, the timetable for this instrument was short. It was supposed to be handed a week ago, but many things had happened during the last few days do I could only get it ready yesterday. Fortunately, it worked out.

Finishing touch

Once the bridge is on, we can move ahead with the tuning machines, nut, saddle and stirngs. This finally gives us the last bits of work. We screw the former in the back of the head stock. Set or but at the top of the fretboard; saddle goes on the bridge. Stirngs come about. We tie a not on the bridge. Put the other end on the tuning machines and wind them to get the stirngs in tune. Since these are new, they won't hold the tone. That will come after they are stretched enough.

A final look

When a project is finishes, it is impossible not to look back. The whole steps taken for its completion. There's a lot to ponder. Each piece gives us something to improve and other things that are getting to the place we like them. As I prepare this instrument so it can get to its final destination, I hope its owner receives it well and also takes care of it.

Go to your new home, my dear Corocoro.

Cococoro is the name of a fish that's very popular in my hometown. It even has a song about eating it's head.

There are more projects on the workbench getting ready to be sold and also to show around Hive. Stay tuned for more updates!

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