Search found 635 matches

by Matthew Lau
Tue Jun 17, 2025 5:51 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Cordless setup?
Replies: 5
Views: 11804

Re: Cordless setup?

Man...one of these days.

Currently, my garage is a storage area for all the baby stuff and bikes
Trying to get rid of stuff.
by Matthew Lau
Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:36 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Hello again! And next little project, a travel bass of sorts
Replies: 32
Views: 50923

Re: Hello again! And next little project, a travel bass of sorts

Whoa!

Thanks for sharing.

One of these days, I was gonna attempt a multiscale...but was afraid of the cost of a fretboard.

Anyways, would love your thoughts on how the bass turned out.
by Matthew Lau
Mon Jun 16, 2025 6:38 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: French Cleats (at last)
Replies: 2
Views: 146

Re: French Cleats (at last)

Just saying thanks for sharing.

I think I gotta do that for my garage too
by Matthew Lau
Mon Jun 16, 2025 6:36 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Fixing those cheapo screwdrivers
Replies: 2
Views: 97

Re: Fixing those cheapo screwdrivers

Hey Paul,

How cheap is cheap?

My wife teases me for being "bougie" with stuff I like: cookware, tools, office supplies.
I've found that there's usually a slightly more expensive option that is significantly better than the cheap stuff (Grace screwdrivers, Bondhaus allen wrenches, etc).
by Matthew Lau
Mon Jun 16, 2025 6:18 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Hello again! And next little project, a travel bass of sorts
Replies: 32
Views: 50923

Re: Hello again! And next little project, a travel bass of sorts

Hey Jarno,

Mind sharing more pictures of your fret slotting jig?
If I continue building, I'll probably be slotting my own fretboards to save money.
by Matthew Lau
Fri Jun 13, 2025 2:03 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: How thin is too thin? Neckthrough bass
Replies: 4
Views: 123

Re: How thin is too thin? Neckthrough bass

Thanks for the tip!

I forgot that I can just buy a short scale neck, and save a ton of time.
We'll see.....still need to clean the garage.
by Matthew Lau
Wed Jun 11, 2025 11:26 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: How thin is too thin? Neckthrough bass
Replies: 4
Views: 123

How thin is too thin? Neckthrough bass

Dear MIMF, I've recently decided to build myself a short scale bass, sorta like the Les Paul log or a Steinberger with a head. Ideally, I want something I can whip out in a day with minimal jigs, a router, and a jigsaw.....especially important with a toddler and newborn. How this is too thin? Fender...
by Matthew Lau
Wed May 21, 2025 12:44 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Science experiments for middle schoolers?
Replies: 0
Views: 130

Science experiments for middle schoolers?

Dear MIMF, I've been encouraging my wife to find meaning in life beyond her former identity as a tech worker. She's since found happiness and meaning teaching at a nearby middle school. She will likely be tapped as the science teacher, and will have to build up a curriculum from not much. Do you hav...
by Matthew Lau
Wed May 07, 2025 8:47 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Getting back to building. Finishing off some ukes
Replies: 3
Views: 303

Re: Getting back to building. Finishing off some ukes

Update: first snafu.

The braces have warped in the last 6-8 years since I glued them on causing the top and back to become concave.

Dumb question: do I need to take off the braces, and make new ones?
by Matthew Lau
Wed May 07, 2025 6:42 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Getting back to building. Finishing off some ukes
Replies: 3
Views: 303

Re: Getting back to building. Finishing off some ukes

Kerfing glued on.

I brought in the rim, along with some tightbond into my office to work on after patients, paperwork, and notes.
I figure that I have maybe 5-10 minutes of freedom at a time.

Next is planing the rims/kerfing flush and installing the top/back
by Matthew Lau
Mon May 05, 2025 12:44 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Getting back to building. Finishing off some ukes
Replies: 3
Views: 303

Getting back to building. Finishing off some ukes

Dear Mimf, This weekend, we put the kids to sleep and organized the workshop. I found a few braced/thicknessed ukelele tops/backs, and a set of bent sides with kerfining glued on one side...as well as a neck and the bridge. After talking with my wife, we decided to just finish the ukulele and get ba...
by Matthew Lau
Fri May 02, 2025 6:09 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Any stuff you do with your kids, grandkids?
Replies: 3
Views: 731

Re: Any stuff you do with your kids, grandkids?

Thanks. That was actually really useful.

I've created a safe(enough) are in the backyard where the kiddo can splash, get dirty, throw rocks, and play with dirt.
It has greatly helped him with behavioral issues.
by Matthew Lau
Tue Apr 22, 2025 2:28 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Help create an FAQ for nut files
Replies: 51
Views: 237036

Re: Help create an FAQ for nut files

I wonder how I missed this thread! This is the one thread I can be of help. For bonding, I recommend a 2 or 3 bottle system, as the single bottle stuff tends to lose effectiveness very fast (due to contrasting chemistry). Scotchbond, Optibond, Optibond Solo+ are all great bonding agents. You can pro...
by Matthew Lau
Tue Apr 22, 2025 12:21 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Taxes and donation instruments?
Replies: 2
Views: 2325

Re: Taxes and donation instruments?

Yay!

I may ask my teacher wife to run this past her principal.
by Matthew Lau
Mon Apr 21, 2025 5:42 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Best stuff to buy from Stewmac 4/2025
Replies: 4
Views: 2198

Re: Best stuff to buy from Stewmac 4/2025

Yup...

Will probably be working on an electric bass or an electric travel guitar sometime.
It may take years to finish cleaning up our garage though...

There's some tools that I can't find for the life of me (like a Japanese chamfer plane)
by Matthew Lau
Fri Apr 18, 2025 7:06 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Taxes and donation instruments?
Replies: 2
Views: 2325

Taxes and donation instruments?

Dear MIMF, A while back, I was crazy about ukulele and promised Jake Shimabukuro a ukulele. Years later, he told me he has two huge rooms of ukes, and asked me to donate it to raise money for local schools. This idea sorta stuck with me. I'm thinking if I get a chance, I'd like to build an instrumen...
by Matthew Lau
Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:54 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: It's Been a While
Replies: 14
Views: 29238

Re: It's Been a While

Hey Gordon,

Glad to hear that you're doing better.

Please enjoy your time with your lovely bride.
by Matthew Lau
Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:53 am
Forum: CAD/CAM/CNC - hardware and software and its uses in luthiery
Topic: 3d printed tools for luthiery
Replies: 3
Views: 2382

3d printed tools for luthiery

Has anyone used any 3d printed tools/jigs for luthiery?

I just started 3d printing around October 2024, and have found it super useful in my dental office.
I've seen a number of tools (like a fret rocker and understring leveling beam) online.

Has anyone tried these?
by Matthew Lau
Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:50 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Any stuff you do with your kids, grandkids?
Replies: 3
Views: 731

Any stuff you do with your kids, grandkids?

Hey MIMF, I've been off for a while, and likely will be taking a long time before going back to building (but no regrets). My main focus right now are my kids, and my wife. However, I don't have a ton of creativity in how to play with my toddler son. Do you have good game/activity/teaching ideas? -M...
by Matthew Lau
Tue Apr 15, 2025 7:00 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Best stuff to buy from Stewmac 4/2025
Replies: 4
Views: 2198

Re: Best stuff to buy from Stewmac 4/2025

My professor pinged me back, and told me to just enjoy my time with my kids.

She said she already has two ukeleles (including a vintage Martin).
She said it'd mean more to her for me to be around my toddler son and newborn daughter.

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