"Lord willing" has lately become the amen of any plan I make. My lumber remains uncut in the wood shop, which is just as well when the temperatures are below freezing and there isn't a heat source.
At the end of October 2016, my husband and I delivered our second child, a sweet baby boy. Complications changed all the plans and hopes we had for his birth, and we ended the event by air-lifting to Seattle Children's Hospital. We have been living in Seattle for several months now. The short story is that our son also has cystic fibrosis which caused some issues requiring four surgeries (three in his first week of life, and the fourth taking eight hours!). God is so good! Our little boy is doing well now, though his progress in recovery is slow, we are working toward a possible transfer back to Montana . . . in a few months.
In the meantime, with the hours spent at the hospital I thought I might study the Swedish language. I've acquired a "teach yourself" book with CD's and a basic grammar workbook. Also, I anxiously await the arrival of "Bygg en Nyckelharpa" on dvd purchased through Amazon.com (produced by Rita Leydon and available on her website and Amazon; following the builder, Soren Ahker).
I'll fine-tune my drawings and cut list for my new nyckelharpa so that I can can get right to work when we finally come home.
Other woodworking projects and plans put on hold: The Dutch toolbox is nearly finished! I made a dealgan (Scottish drop spindle. I got tired of breaking my delicate top-whorl spindle) using my power drill as a lathe. I'd like to make flower boxes for the deck railing. My hubby wants a bench by the back door for putting on and taking off/ storing shoes. A toy box for our kids. Etc, etc.
We'll see how far I get . . . Lord willing!
Showing posts with label nyckelharpa building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nyckelharpa building. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Nyckelharpa #2 - Planning
Just so you know . . . I made a new blog and moved all of my posts from LemonFloss to StillwaterStrings.blogspot.com Updates on this project (and new projects) may be found there!
I recently had a fantastic opportunity to have a nyckelharpa lesson with Aryeh Frankfurter when he and his wife came through Montana on part of their performance tour. The amount of information he gave me was enormous for a beginner. The main thing, I believe, is to play the instrument. I have a long road to travel as a nyckelharpa player, but I'm now pointed in the right direction.
I am also excited to build a second harpa. I was allowed to take a side-by-side picture of Aryeh's nyckelharpa and mine. He insisted I try playing his instrument. It was much lighter and although the same overall length, it was slightly narrower and seemed easier to hold for my small size.
My goal on this harpa isn't to recreate the other craftsman's design, but rather to incorporate those differences I liked and felt would improve my first instrument. Lighter and "smaller".
My sweet husband took me shopping for wood at Winsor Plywood, where I picked up some more alder, but also purchased some vertical grain fir to use on the top and bottom. The grain on the VG fir is very close and very straight, looking similar to spruce. It is also a slightly harder wood than spruce according to the Janka hardness scale.
The shade of the wood is closer between the two.
And the grain of the fir can be seen here.
Design main changes I hope to incorporate:
I recently had a fantastic opportunity to have a nyckelharpa lesson with Aryeh Frankfurter when he and his wife came through Montana on part of their performance tour. The amount of information he gave me was enormous for a beginner. The main thing, I believe, is to play the instrument. I have a long road to travel as a nyckelharpa player, but I'm now pointed in the right direction.
I am also excited to build a second harpa. I was allowed to take a side-by-side picture of Aryeh's nyckelharpa and mine. He insisted I try playing his instrument. It was much lighter and although the same overall length, it was slightly narrower and seemed easier to hold for my small size.
My goal on this harpa isn't to recreate the other craftsman's design, but rather to incorporate those differences I liked and felt would improve my first instrument. Lighter and "smaller".
My sweet husband took me shopping for wood at Winsor Plywood, where I picked up some more alder, but also purchased some vertical grain fir to use on the top and bottom. The grain on the VG fir is very close and very straight, looking similar to spruce. It is also a slightly harder wood than spruce according to the Janka hardness scale.
And the grain of the fir can be seen here.
Design main changes I hope to incorporate:
- longer and narrower neck/ keybox
- shorter and narrower body with a thinner top and bottom
- bent-wood top instead of planed/carved
- minor adjustments to bridge, string nut and keys
This time around, I'd like to try steaming/bending the top instead of planing it to shape, so I'll be needing to build a steam box and a jig for shaping.
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