Mike's Oud Forums

Peg Box Inlay

Jonathan - 5-9-2006 at 12:23 PM

I already made the pegbox for the oud I am currently building, but, for the next one, I want to make it a bit fancier. In particular, I want to have some inlay on it.
Below is Dincer's beautiful work. I could have shown others, but, really, none is better than Dincer's.

So, how is this done? It would seem that you make the pegbox as you normally would, and then create a "shelf" for the contrasting wood to lie in, then sand the whole thing down. Maybe that wouldn't count as inlay in the strictest sense.

How do you make that shelf? By hand? By a router? Don't know how to work a router yet, but I can learn. Or is there some other tool that is used?

And, while I am bugging you guys with questions, are there any pointers for making the neck with the strips of wood as shown? These are much thinner than the ribs. How thick? Any tips on making a neck this way?

Thanks!

Dr. Oud - 5-12-2006 at 07:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jonathan
I already made the pegbox for the oud I am currently building, but, for the next one, I want to make it a bit fancier. In particular, I want to have some inlay on it.
Below is Dincer's beautiful work. I could have shown others, but, really, none is better than Dincer's.

So, how is this done? It would seem that you make the pegbox as you normally would, and then create a "shelf" for the contrasting wood to lie in, then sand the whole thing down. Maybe that wouldn't count as inlay in the strictest sense.

How do you make that shelf? By hand? By a router? Don't know how to work a router yet, but I can learn. Or is there some other tool that is used?

And, while I am bugging you guys with questions, are there any pointers for making the neck with the strips of wood as shown? These are much thinner than the ribs. How thick? Any tips on making a neck this way?

Thanks!

After the main elements of the pegbox are assembled, I use the same channel cutter used for the face edging to cut a notch along the edges of the pegbox. The edging is bent and glued in before mounting the end cap and fitting the neck joint surfaces so you can trim the ends flush.

The neck veneer is the same thickness as the back ribs on all the ouds I've repaired. I don't see why it couldn't be simple thin veneer - if the neck is stiff and stable. I used a veneer on my George Nahat replica built in 1978 and it's still good. The core is pine with a 1/8inch center stringer of walnut. The thicker veneers are usuallly applied over a soft core of spruce or pine, and could help stiffen the neck a bit. I just fit them up dry and glue the whole bunch on at once with rubber bands. You could make a clamping caul I suppose, but my restoration work sees so many different sizs and shapes that I don't make very many fixtures or my shop would be buried with them.

Jonathan - 5-12-2006 at 07:58 AM

Channel cutter.
Hmmm.
I like the sound of that.
See, this is what you get when somebody who doesn't know a thing about woodworking takes on a job like this. I figured there had to be a tool like that.
The neck veneer seems like it might be more difficult than it looks, particularly with getting the angle of the edges right. On the other hand, I guess it is not so important, because the veneers here are just decorative, and the neck itself is the strength.
I am going to give it a shot next time.
Thanks a lot!