Wilderness is Goin'

I got quite a bit done last night on the neck shapin'.

I, still have allot to do but, I'm letting it set with the new changes for awhile.

I will be posting pictures of the progress later today

Lovin' Life & Its's ALL Oak kay - RPO Sr.

My Travel Tote

I set myself up with a "tote" of hand tools that I bring in and out of the house and the shop.

The contents of the tote change but some things are always packed in there.

The tote is an old plastic drawer from a file cabinet I had layin around.

You could use anything you want though.

The bottom is lined with an old piece of carpet to keep things from shiftin' and bangin' around.

I do this so I can work on small projects and hang out in the house.

My wife don't bust my chops about the small messes it makes to work in the house.

I can sit at the table and listen to the goin's on in the house. laugh and joke with the family or sit in my chair & watch the Sabres game or the Buffalo Bills ball games and still create instruments or parts.

The wife just cleans it up when I walk away no fuss.

Not a big deal. She's a great women.

I don't expect it but it's always missin' when I return.

 She likes to know I'm Lovin' Life & I try my best at all times to offer her the same.

The mess is just a small one usually. Wood shavings, chips a little saw dust here and there.

A shot of "The Tote":

Whats in the "Tote now":

Top row - Left to right:

- Two journal's - The green one is for this project the red for an N-57 in production now as well

- Pencils - I keep several

- Sand paper of various grades

- A pair of Household Shares

- A few wood files of differing shapes and sizes

- A screw driver I modified to have a scribe end & it is wrapped with 80 grit sand paper

(The black handle)

- 1 Hobby knife w/ changeable blade

-1 sharp utility Razor Knife.

On the bottom left to right:

- A Coping saw

- 1 Long handled Dry Paint brush
- A 12 ft. pocket size Tape Measure.
Typically I have metal rulers & a set of calipers in the tote

- A small changeable Screw Driver

- 3 inch Hand Plane

-1 Chisel. Typically I have more chisels in tote

There may be more tools in the tote at any given time, depending on my projects, but basically, these tools travel back and forth with me from shop to house all the time.



Lovin' Life - It's ALL Oak Kay - RPO Sr.

Wilderness takin' the shape of a "Nectar"

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Spent some time in the shop this morning cutting out the basic neck shape of "Wilderness"

Now she needs to sit and set up at least 24 hrs before I take out the files, planes & chisels.
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Take a look. !!!
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Here is a shot of "Wilderness" all rough cut to her basic shape.

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The Headstock basic shape -- Rough cut:

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The Heal & Playin' Scoop -- Rough cut

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A Shot of the Pot dowel - Rough Cut

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Lovin' Life & It's ALL Oak kay - RPO Sr.

What a differance a month makes

The Headstock

As you can see it's not completely cut out yet but, it's comin' along nicely.

The grains line up nice and the color is just wild.

WILD! I got it! The name of this piece is:

 "Wilderness" Thats it thats the name.

I absolutly love the name

Couldn't have another

Very fitting.

" I see this instrument on kayak trips to campfires in the depths of nature "

" WILDERNESS "

& The Neck Length

Again, grains are lined up and all of the seams are tight.

Lookin' like a single piece of lumber.

I might just keep 'er when she's done.

This will be a hard one to let go.

Look at me talkin' myself right into ownin' the "Wilderness"

After all its 2011.

The year of BIG

Believe Intend Generate

Lovin' Life & It's ALL Oak Kay - RPO Sr.

Still Going ... Now & Zen.

In the shop today.

I started cutting out the neck's basic shape.

 As I go I spend allot of time invisioning and I let the wood show its own beauty.

Still, always amazed at the natural correctness in the grains. Its easy to see that a piece of lumber was destined to end up in my shop at this moment to become what it already knows is inside.

This uke is no exception.

I haven't been inspired to name it just yet but I'm really enjoying the process with this one.

 I'm putting allot into it & allot is coming out.

Beautiful!!!

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I love this stuff.

When I work on instruments all else fades away.

Its a meditation session at its finest form, like no other I've experienced.

Gardeners, painters, sketchers, musicians all know the art of relaxing.

This art works well for me.

No work just pure relaxation.

Ready - Get Set ........... & - Go, Go, Go!!!!!!!

I've been working on the homestead as of late and the production in the shop has been low.

I will be posting new photos and working on the neck earily this week. 

The neck has been setting up for just short of a month and it is ready to be cut out.