Installing Ablam Top Purfling Part 2

Continuation of part 1, Part 2 of 3. Setting in the lines and the shell.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Lutherie
• Guitar Building
• Woodworking

[BilloT5]

I'm shopping ablam and I've found several different sources from LMII to the originator..The Duke of Pearl. I can't seem to get a good feel for what the cost should be to do one side. The amazon prince looks like about 10 dollars. Grizzly shows about 91 dollars and prices vary around. What is the average price you give and where do you prefer to shop it? Your advice is appreciated.

[chrispaulick]

@BilloT5 Well it all depends on what ablam you are using. If you were to buy a Green Select 4 1/2" X 9 1/2" X .050" at about $160 and cut you strips at 1/16" wide and figured 1/16" waste for the saw cut or a total of 1/8" then it would just cost you a little under $.50 and inch. Dred top or side figure about 32" or 64" total and the rest of the math you can do. Ok , $32 in just ablam. You just have to do the math. I also like to check with David Nichols at Custom Pearl Inlay for ablam.

[PotentialFreedom]

I think anyone who makes a guitar from step one to finish is amazing. I was watching another luthier and the way he made putting in the shell easier was when he stuck the wood purfling in he put an extra strip the width of the shell. When he wanted to put in the shell he just took out the spacer and stuck it in. Just something different. Great job. It looks amazing.

[chrispaulick]

Some also use teflon strips. Find a method that works for you.

[chrispaulick]

I shellac around the edges and the edge of the purfling channel to prevent the CA from weeping into the top and staining it.

[albertaboyz]

Chris,

Where do you get your ab lam? What dimensions would one look for? Great video- I always thought one needed to buy the pre-cut, pre-curved material. Cheers from Alberta.

[chrispaulick]

Custom Pearl Inlay, and Dave Nichols is a good guy as well as a great inlay artist.

[hochbob]

Great tutorials. Thanks for posting.

[ed677]

So you lacquer around the edges to protect the wood during the process?

[chrispaulick]

Yes, it's a sloped shoulder Dred. Actually a J45. I'm trying out a Mike Doolin Adjustable Neck Joint and a Grit Laskin Style Arm and Rib Rests on it. I call it my practice guitar since I'm working out these things for the first time before trying them on some nicer wood.