theodoropoulos - 2-4-2014 at 01:31 AM
I have a question which is in my mind for long and have not managed to find the answer....
So it concerns the binding in a baroque mandolin....Th problem is the wood that is glued at the end of the instrument...i have attached a photo...
so this wood is not all way across the top's end,but it stops..so if i route with a quide folllowing the top's end,there where this wood starts it
will create a STEP and the line will be not linear..
i have no idea how to overcome this problem...
My solution would be to sand the wood;s end so it be almost flat...
any help guys????
ps :i have finished my first baroque mandolin (withoy this binding) an d i am very excited..of course there are many things to correct...
jdowning - 2-4-2014 at 10:33 AM
By 'binding' do you mean the end clasp that reinforces the bottom end of the bowl - the ends terminating at about the widest part of the bowl? If so
then the end points of the clasp should be gradually tapered to almost a 'knife edge' to minimise any step in the soundboard profile.
[file]30329[/file]
theodoropoulos - 2-6-2014 at 06:31 AM
by 'binding' i mean this black line...around the top...
forgive me but i have not seen with my own eyes an authentic mandolin...
so i assume that this black binding follows the top and is over this 'end clasp'...
so only by making as a knife could create a non step line...
Thank you Mr JDowning
for your assist!
jdowning - 2-6-2014 at 10:37 AM
OK - most of the original 18th mandolinos that I have examined have the binding around the edge of the soundboard cut to around 1/3 to 1/2 the
thickness of the soundboard and are between 2 mm and 3 mm wide as shown in the attached rough sketch. This follows lute practice dating from the early
17th C.
The end clasp is left full thickness around the bottom of the bowl (so doubling the bowl thickness around the top edge). At both ends, the clasp is
tapered to a knife edge at the top edge of the bowl to minimise any 'step' in the soundboard profile. The soundboard, of course, is glued over the
entire upper edge of the bowl including the clasp.
Once glued in place the edge of the binding may be rounded slightly.
Typically the binding material would be ebony or ivory or a
black/white purfling arrangement.
theodoropoulos - 2-6-2014 at 08:46 PM
Ok, i think i am getting closer...!!
but as i see it better my problem is still not in the profile but in the view from above as we stare the soundboard...
this 'end clasp" i write in my sketch creates this step...
but what do i do wrong???
theodoropoulos - 2-6-2014 at 09:49 PM
ok i think i have drawn it very bad....
i think i undrestood it now
theodoropoulos - 2-6-2014 at 09:57 PM
by the way...here is my first try
without this end claspand binding...
rather than a small oud
jdowning - 2-8-2014 at 06:51 AM
In your sketch you show the step formed by both ends of the clasp when first glued to the bowl. This step is eliminated by tapering the ends of the
clasp at the upper edge of the bowl to blend with the bowl profile. The lower part of the clasp remains full thickness (about 1.5 mm). The clasp then
forms part of the upper edge of the bowl to which the sound board is glued and is levelled with the rest of edge of the bowl prior to fitting the
sound board.
The attached images of an 18th C Venetian mandolino may help to clarify what I mean. Note that on this instrument there seems to be still a very
slight step remaining (although this might be just the thicker lower part of the clasp projecting in the photograph).
Congratulations on completing your mandolino - it should work just as well without soundboard banding or even the end clasp - although the clasp adds
greater rigidity to the bowl in the area below the bridge. Good luck.
[file]30447[/file] [file]30445[/file] [file]30443[/file] [file]30441[/file]
theodoropoulos - 2-9-2014 at 06:41 AM
Thank you very much!!
now it is 100% understood!!!i dont know how to thank you.....!!
here in Greece they make bouzoukis and this clasp doesnt stop but it is continued with another wood...
so this technique is unkown here for most of them i guess.
thanks for your all support all this time..!
i f you need anything form me please let me know!
jdowning - 2-10-2014 at 12:50 PM
Glad the information was of some use.
Some early lutes - like the bouzoukis - have the same arrangement with a narrow strip of wood extending from the end of the clasp to neck joint -
glued to the outside of the bowl - so stiffening and increasing the thickness of the edge of the bowl.
I cannot recall offhand if those lutes had soundboard 'half depth' edge binding to compensate for the increased stiffness of the soundboard edge due
to the thicker glued joint.