Indian Rosewood oud (completed!)

Hi everyone,
as is customary, I am starting a new oud project, in a new house, in a new workshop... I hope this is the last time I move for the next 5 years at least what a pain in the... it is to set everything up again.

anyways, here are some pics of my new shop and project I am working on.

He Samir,

Wow, nice big workshop. I envy you

I like to have one of these big bandsaws (no space).

Hope many wonders will come out from your new place.

Enjoy it

Thanks guys,
I made the resaw fence myself... with some scrap melamine boards leftover from my new kitchen cabinets it ended up working pretty well.

I used a silicone steel blade by R&D Bandsaw http://www.tufftooth.com/ It did cut very smooth and straight and I ended up with 19, 3mm ribs. After planing, my ribs are 2.5-2.3 mm. Although the blade was brand new, after cutting the wood for this oud its been dulled out considerably. Still dough, the cuts ended up being straight and smooth throughout... it just got louder and harder to push when I got towards the last couple of ribs.

The bandsaw is a horrible dust monster and the dust collection port is very poorly designed. In the end, I had to wear a mask to avoid breathing in the rosewood dust and it took me an hour to vacum the workshop of all the purple dust everywhere.

I also added a antivibration link belt and it made the whole difference in the world. It was as if that bandsaw had legs before and it would want to take walks around the workshop with the link belt its much better behaved.

I would like to include maple purfling strips in between the ribs of the oud. Anyone want to describe the proceedure to me? pictures would be nice too

Hi Samir,

I have never used a bandsaw for cutting the ribs. I use a table saw the ribs (bosch). I have mounted a saw brand called CTM orange tools thin kurf kirbide 1.7mm thick. and I have it now for 8 months, I have use it for almost anything neck, ribs, fingerboards (ebony, macassar and other hardwood). the ribs comeout very smooth and do not even need planning most of time.

For the purfling strips I use a small table saw from proxxon with a 1mm small thin blade, but have enouph power to cut even trough hard wood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDanOgTt41g

I have used a small bandsaw for the ribs but he cut is bubbly and because the saw will zigzag a bit anyway (two hands are just no enouph).
but you maybe find a better way to do it with the bandsaw

The advantage of this little table saw is that the hight of he blade can be adjusted to the hight of the strips resulting a clean cut. I usualy cut 1mm or 1,1 max so the look of the strips on the oud are not to harsh (big).

and here is a picture how I do it. first bend the ribs, plane one side straight with you new lV tool and cut out the strips using the table saw:

hope you find it useful

Hi Bulerias,

The machine is very wel built and does not make noise at all. one important thing: it looks smal but it is still a dangerous babe. I have had a 2,5 cm deep cut in my left middle finger the second day I had it. almost lost a finger .

the price is about 320 euro. the little sister is smaller one, less dangerous and excellent for veneer and light wood work(Ks 23)
You can make you own exotic strips yourself, with any kind of wood. buying ready strips is nice but making your own is even better.

I think I have posted some pictures how to place the strips between the ribs the easy way. it is almost as you said, I use Titebond (he green bottle, take longer time to set up (about 10min) than the normal yellow titebond bottle, plentyof time to rub both sides of the ribs with glue and place the strip between them and go up slowly and at the same time joining the ribs with tape.

Te tape has an amazing power bypulling the ribs to each other, you even see the glue being squeezed out of the ribs.

would love to see your pictures.

ouch.... I can just imagine the kind of cut you could get with that type of table saw. Be carefull man!

The technique you describe here is the kind of technique I use to make the straight edge binding but I never thought about doing the strips like that. only problem is with a bandsaw you are right that the strings would not be straight enought and would require a lot of planing or even sanding on a flat board which would be easier given the size of the strips.

I am thinking of using maple veneer and cut the strips from a large veneer peice in the outline of the rib with an exacto knive. no bending required that way

rib storing thing

Thought I would share with you this little thingamajig I made to hold the bent ribs. I saw it somewhere I think on a lute making blog.

anyways it works great and it is very conveniant.

On a "lute making blog"? Look no further than "Old Oud - New Project", page 5 on this forum!

At this rate... Proably going to take me a couple of weeks.

Thanks ya Samir.

woah... that was too long a break.

update

Hi everyone,
the back is now scraped clean. I really love the figure on this rosewood. its gonna be gorgeous. I tried to do some patterns by alternating the grain on the ribs. I love the looks but I lost track of the rib order when I took such a long break in building it.
Next oud I will pay more attention to that.

I also found a new trick to hold the very thin piece that goes at the back of the pegbox while planning. TAPE
works like a charm and is more predictable than using a shooting board block.

I posted a video in an another post on bandsaw sharpening. This is the revelation of the year for me. My saw cuts better than brand new and I was just about to toss out the blade!

I had the blade off because the tension adjustment portion of my saw had jammed completely. the nut at the bottom of the spring had stripped the adjustment screw so I had to order a new one. I ordered one with a handle crank. what a difference!! so easy to add and remove tension.

Made some more progress following that, I shaped the neck block to rough dimensions and glued the pegbox assembly. I really need to make a precise jig to do that. Its always guessing work for me.

It looks really great ! The grain's amazing, (you've heard this one before) - I look forward to a sound sample - and thanks so much for sharing the details of the project..and of course, good health for your newborn daughter.

Regards..Paul

Thanks guys

Paul, speaking of grain, what do you think of that quilted maple in the back ?

I will work on it some more this weekend and will see how much I get done...

Bridge blank

Pickguard inlay

Almost there!

Great work! And nice pegs, too

Thank you fellas,
I thought you would like the pegs Brian

I guess I could do that...
Thanks John!

Here is a quick video I made to show the sound of the oud. I am working on posting some other clips but I am working from a Mac so its complicated for no reason

here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgQqo7FfvQo&

Thank you everyone for the suport and encouragement along the way.
Samir.

Thanks Hamed,

Actually, this is oud #4. I have also replaced the tops on some other ouds so the top on this one I think is my 6th or 7th top.

But I will take the compliment either way

It took me some time to understand a bit more how to adjust the bracing and I hope I found the right recipe now just need to tweak a few things...

HA! thats an idea. I wish buddy I wish... not sure my wife would like that too much

Thanks John, Leon.
Lady luck was on my side for this one.

Yes the visit is overdue absolutely. I will try to stop by sometime this spring/summer. Maybe that old oud of yours will be singing again when I come We can coordinate on email.

Quote: Originally posted by bulerias1981

that's the problem with wives.. its why I got rid of mine

Quote: Originally posted by Brian Prunka

Quote: Originally posted by bulerias1981   that's the problem with wives.. its why I got rid of mine Good thing you did it in the spring, after the ground had thawed.