The red oak turned out to be exactly the same stuff that I was looking at last time. I could get away with it, but on the sides you would notice that it's plywood. So I bought a fat slab of pine, 20mm thick and one side has been cut and laminated to the body. It's actually got a nice grain and doesn't look like poo. So all 10 clamps are currently being used on the one side, once that has cured, I'll do the same on on the other side once the cavity guide holes have been cut as well as the post holes and holes for the pots.
Some older before shots.
Overall I'm happy. While not the best option was used and a lot of people will frown down on it, the matter of the fact was that I needed 8mm from somewhere, This was the best way of getting it. I will more than likely replace the whole body at some stage and go with either red oak, maple or mahogany. But at this stage I want to see if I can save this body. It only cost me R85 for a 500 x 1800 slab of pine shelving.
Tomorrow is time to laminate the other side and then monday will be time to plane and then I'm going to wait until J is back at work and take the body over for a few passes on the belt sander,that does give me some time to get the edges right as well as bleach the sides where the stain really soaked into the grain..
Busy uploading pics as we speak........damn cell-c cheap interwebs. Just for the record, I'm still fired up about this build and can't wait to play it again as well as start on the hardcase. Stay tuned.......
