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Posted

Another sunny day! Will these miracles never stop occurring? Just to show that things are moving even in this generally grey holiday season, here is the shed getting a good thick sealer coat of wallpaper paste; applied liberally to the walls floor ceiling and doors. This is in preparation for the aluminium foil, (I trust that you will all pronounce this correctly).  This foil will help to reflect the UV lights so that the bass gets a good even tan, (sorry even drying), even between its toes.  I make no apologies for documenting this. Some of us live sunless lives in sunless climates. Those of you that do not intend to make a bass will not need a cabinet or box this big, but the principle is the same. I have been using my other box; for violins/cellos, for more than 40 years. I made it sturdy enough for a lifetime and it seems to be doing quite well thank you. I have had quite a bit of trouble getting UV lights here in Germany for my new box (shed). It has cost me several hours on the phone to Holland (Phillips HQ) and Germany. The normal suppliers can provide sun bed lamps (UVA) that are 2 meters long, but not the single supports to hold them. And there are regulations without end for anything stronger.  It has been a real pain in the ain’.  In the end it looks as if I will be getting 4 x 120cm tubes and 2 x 60cm tubes for above and below. With luck these will be UVA. The holding brackets might require some modification but.. I’ll keep you informed, but all this is really driving me crazy. Add to this the fact that my only power tool; a small band saw, has just given up the ghost and… well shit happens!

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Posted

...

just given up the ghost and… well shit happens!

This is all just because you started making a Bass. In the beginning of this thread many forumers were horrified. You should not have done this!

 

Seriously,

This is a great thread, and I'm shure it will be even greater.

It may even raise the status of basses among makers!

Posted

Maybe you've seen the film "saving Grace"... :)

You don't want the police to come and ask questions about why you are building a house in your garden with aluminium foil, and lots of neon lights inside... :D

Posted

'Saving Grace'; well yes that is just what it feels like. If the worst comes to the worst I suppose I could grow some, but quite honestly with Holland only an hour away there would not be much point. 

 

Now including buying the stuff and doing it I was all day going at it. Ten hours and I’m still sitting here typing the blog with sticky fingers. 

 

Michael, The good news is that my local electrician just called and said they can finally get the lights. He really worked hard on that. But that’s what you get when you shop local and not on the net. Its called service. It is why I am smiling in the photo. I will let you know what he has ordered when it finally arrives.  

 

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Posted

 

'Saving Grace'; well yes that is just what it feels like. If the worst comes to the worst I suppose I could grow some, but quite honestly with Holland only an hour away there would not be much point. 

 

Now including buying the stuff and doing it I was all day going at it. Ten hours and I’m still sitting here typing the blog with sticky fingers. 

 

Michael, The good news is that my local electrician just called and said they can finally get the lights. He really worked hard on that. But that’s what you get when you shop local and not on the net. Its called service. It is why I am smiling in the photo. I will let you know what he has ordered when it finally arrives.  

 

Lovely work, Roger.

Must be comforting to know that you could always turn your hand to painting and decorating if this violin-making lark doesn't work out..... ;)

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Since making a light box that fits a bass was talked about here, I thought I'd show my solution if anyone's interested. I only wanted one light box but didn't like the idea of running a bunch of lights for a tiny violin. So I built a light box consisting of 2 compartments with two foot lights on top and four foot lights on the bottom--like a refrigerator with freezer compartment. The 2 compartments are controlled by different switches. I can fit violins on top, a cello on the bottom, and there is a divider that I can take out and fit a bass. I only switch on the compartment that I need. For a bass I have everything running. There is also a separate switch for an exhaust fan and an intake that will fit a filter. The whole thing is on wheels, because my previous box only fit cellos and that was ridiculous to move (and this box is pretty ridiculous too unfortunately as my shop mates who helped us move into our house a couple of years ago can tell you).  

This is a really great thread Roger! Very inspiring and thanks for starting it. I've finally gotten around to reading it, there's a lot to take in.

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Posted

Matthew,

What type of bulbs are those? Definitely not the filtered blacklights, and the photo doesn't show a blue-ish tinge that I'd expect from UV lamps.

Many of us use "Black Light" bulbs, rather that "Black Light Blue" bulbs, which have a bluish colored coating and filter out more of the visible light

Posted

Very cool, Matthew. What is the total bulb power (watts) for each compartment?

I notice the bucket of water below which can be important in winter here in NJ.

Mike

Mike,

Top compartment wattage = 136

Bottom compartment wattage = 256

The bucket does help with humidity. I put 2 in there sometimes and will also sometimes drape wool socks over the edge. The wool socks wick the moisture up throughout the sock and I end up having more surface area for water to evaporate if I really need things damp. I've been told that the moisture helps intensify the uv light somehow and it helps especially with the tanning process but I don't have enough observational data to back that up for sure yet.

Matthew,

What type of bulbs are those? Definitely not the filtered blacklights, and the photo doesn't show a blue-ish tinge that I'd expect from UV lamps.

Don,

The bulbs I have in there now are reptile bulbs. They are specifically UVB 10.0. I believe they still emit quite a bit of UVA as well, but they emit more UVB than the average UV bulb. I'm not convinced it's necessary though. They do a nice job of tanning and drying the varnish, but other bulbs I've had in the past do well too. Next time I will be buying the average UV bulb and see if I can tell any difference. The coating is as David says, it doesn't filter out all of the visible light so it's not as blue as your typical UV bulb you might buy for Halloween, but it still does the job as well.

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

So, when you get your 1 kilo bag of Plaster of Paris it will still be hot. (Meaning that when you add water it will set.) It will need all the fire taking out of it and here is how it’s done. Get up early in the morning and fill a bucket with ten liters of cold water. A plastic bucket is best. An old metal bucket might just transfer some iron into the mix. Next get yourself a smooth stick. Pour the plaster into the water and stir vigorously and keep stirring continuously until your arms are falling off. Depending on your state of health this might take ten minutes or half an hour. The longer you can keep going the better. When you need a rest let the plaster settle for a minute or two; not more and stir it again. Do this as often as you can for at least an hour. If you let it settle for more than a minute or two it will start to set and the particles will become too big.

After an hour of continuous stirring let it all settle again and as soon as it is possible pour off the upper layer of water. Even if the water looks clear, DO NOT POUR IT INTO A SINK OR A TOILET OR ANY FORM OF CLOSED DRAINAGE. It will eventually settle and set no matter how much water you follow it up with. If you have a compost heap pour it on that. It will add lime to the mix. As soon as you have done this fill the bucket again and stir vigorously. Keep stirring for as long as you can.

 

[snipped]

 

From what I read in your description here, you are essentially making "slaked plaster" - is that your understanding? If so, http://meisterin.katarina.home.comcast.net/~meisterin.katarina/gesso.html points out that you can commercially obtain Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate, AKA gypsum, as an alternative to doing this work yourself. Gypsum powder can be purchased on eBay for $2.50/lb, or in many farm/garden stores as a fertilizer. Sounds like it might be a bit purer and a lot less work for the arms. :-)

 

Hope this helps,

Elliot

Posted

From what I read in your description here, you are essentially making "slaked plaster" - is that your understanding? If so, http://meisterin.katarina.home.comcast.net/~meisterin.katarina/gesso.html points out that you can commercially obtain Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate, AKA gypsum, as an alternative to doing this work yourself. Gypsum powder can be purchased on eBay for $2.50/lb, or in many farm/garden stores as a fertilizer. Sounds like it might be a bit purer and a lot less work for the arms. :-)

 

Hope this helps,

Elliot

 

It probably will help but its not so much fun. 

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