Mike's Oud Forums

Syrian oud restoration.

SamirCanada - 8-25-2006 at 11:04 AM

I bought this oud in order to entertain myself with a little project. I made an offer to a ebay merchant and bought the oud. I received it dammaged as there was verry little padding in the case it came in. One of the ribs had separated at the glue joint, the pegbox broken off and the finish had been scratched verry baddly.
These deffects were in addition to a verry poorly made nut, Ill fitting soft wood pegs, a walnut fingerboard that had a hole in the middle of it from having a knot part of wood fall out. ( truly the worst fingerboard immaginable) The face was finished with the same polyurethane as the bowl, the pickgard was made of some immitation ebony material. I recognized the woods the back was made of before buying so I tought if the bowl is good then it will be worth putting some effort.

When I received the oud I noticed that it was made by a fellow named The singer Adnan al-Dali from Aleppo. Any body heard of him? the other intriguing thing is that the pickgard is exactly like the egyptian ouds made by Ahmed Abdul halim. But after closer examination the bowl is made in the same exact manner as my shehata bowl. And the thin neck found on my shehata is the same as on this one also the bracelet found on the neck is the same as my shehata. Latter I found that the pegbox is made in the same exact was as my shehata with the maple walls and rosewood exterior panels.
So I think this oud was basicaly a subcontracted oud for this singer in halab.

Here is the original picture and the ones of my developement so far.

SamirCanada - 8-25-2006 at 11:05 AM

my workshop, much like the disorganised ones of the ME

SamirCanada - 8-25-2006 at 11:06 AM

The new pegbox with the fitted ebony pegs

SamirCanada - 8-25-2006 at 11:09 AM

the bowl in the condition I received.

SamirCanada - 8-25-2006 at 11:16 AM

This is the face wich I started removing the finsish off. The face I found to be made of suprisingly good spruce top of similar qualitie as my shehata oud. I added a simulation tortoise raqma. You can see I also added a rosewood fingerboard and birds eye maple beard ( not tapered or trimed yet in the picture) I missed my camera for a few days so I couldnt get as many updates as I wished.

SamirCanada - 8-25-2006 at 11:20 AM

here is the striped back with the first coat of finish added.

SamirCanada - 8-28-2006 at 11:14 AM

Is there a reason why in some parts the finish Iam adding is remaining sticky? Is there something I should do to help it cure properly? sand more? apply thiner? or is it just a mather of letting it dry compleetly?
Thank you

By the way I have received DR.oud's book. Needless to say its an amazing reference thank you.

Jameel - 8-28-2006 at 12:24 PM

Looking good, Samir. That redish wood is pretty. Nice pegs, too.

What finish are you using?

SamirCanada - 8-28-2006 at 09:43 PM

thanks jameel. I think that is padouk.
Iam using minwax polyurethane.
any advice you can give me on how to finish it up nicely. The bowl is perfectly dry and nice now. Its just the pegbox and the neck giving trouble with the stickiness. any links on other sites that cover this subject?

Jason - 8-29-2006 at 01:20 PM

Looks like it is coming along nicely. I considered making an offer on the 'kuwait oud' that seller offers but I was afraid of damage during shipping.

SamirCanada - 8-30-2006 at 06:58 AM

Thanks Jason...
but you were right to worry about the shipping technique used. Its almost a garanteed damage senario. But if you want to fix it up once it gets to your place then you'll have a really nice oud for the price you pay.

Mike - 8-30-2006 at 03:41 PM

Looking good Samir. This "talatat" oud is gonna be nice once you're done with it. Nice combo of woods.

Dr. Oud - 8-30-2006 at 04:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SamirCanada
Is there a reason why in some parts the finish Iam adding is remaining sticky? Is there something I should do to help it cure properly? sand more? apply thiner? or is it just a mather of letting it dry compleetly?
Thank you

By the way I have received DR.oud's book. Needless to say its an amazing reference thank you.
-Some things affecting finish drying:
temperature
humidity
incompatible original finish not completely removed
incompatible solvent residue remaining on surface
dirty or oily surface
silicone contamination on surface (WD-40, other products containing silicone on or near the surface)
use of out of date finish
impatience
you're welcome!

SamirCanada - 8-30-2006 at 09:36 PM

thanks Doc... I think the problem was the temperatures and humidity starting to rise at nite in my garage. And a little bit of impatience.
Do you have a trick to clean off as much as possible of the dirt in the area of finishing?

Dr. Oud - 8-31-2006 at 05:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SamirCanada
thanks Doc... I think the problem was the temperatures and humidity starting to rise at nite in my garage. And a little bit of impatience.
Do you have a trick to clean off as much as possible of the dirt in the area of finishing?
It depends on the finish you're using. Use the solvent that is recommended for cleaning the finish you're using - unless it's water based or shellac (French Polish). In that case use isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to aloow the surface to dry thoroughly before applying the next coat, an uncured layer will take forever to cure, or at least it will seem like it.

SamirCanada - 9-6-2006 at 01:20 PM

Sorry for the long delay in the Updates

I was struck with somekind of stomach flu and it knocked me out of play for about 4 days.
But Iam back now and I have some pictures... enjoy.

SamirCanada - 9-6-2006 at 01:21 PM

another shot

SamirCanada - 9-6-2006 at 01:22 PM

outdoor pic

SamirCanada - 9-6-2006 at 01:23 PM

back done outdoors

SamirCanada - 9-6-2006 at 01:29 PM

finished fingerboard

amtaha - 9-7-2006 at 11:49 AM

It's good that you're sound and well.

The oud is looking good!

Keep it up ...

Hamid

abusin - 9-8-2006 at 07:14 AM

Hi Samir, and all oud lovers

Its been a while since my last posts, busy working, looking after family and learning oud ( tough life ! )

Samir I have been following your project and admired evry bit, I do have a similar looking Kuaiti salmeen but was lucky the seller was only 45 minutes drive so I choose to pick it up myself, its a very nice oud the only problem there is one rib with a 2inch glue joint seperation @ the bottom of the bowl otherwise nothing else is wrong,
I fitted Jameels aquila strings to it and the sound is awesome,

my question Samir, sorry for the long intro, how do I glue back the parting safley...?

Thanks and best regards to all

SamirCanada - 9-8-2006 at 07:44 AM

You should post pictures of your problem and in more detail explain how the crack works... can you bring it back togheter with hand pressure for example? Start your own thread and you will have better awnsers from more experianced members.

abusin - 9-8-2006 at 08:02 AM

Thanks Samir,

I'll do that soon,

Awad