Thickness Sander (drum)

Hey all yall I am looking for a thickness sander for free, for use, for trade, to borrow, build or on the cheap that I can make deferred payments on- one of the things I really need the most. Thickness or Drum SANDER-that's what it is called. not PLANER
If ya don't mind asking around when you feel it the right situation, Or if you know someone not using theirs, It must have a minimum of 18' wide feed. and of course, please continue prayer for my hard work to pay off-- Mine is: "thank you lord for the people, friends and family that support me and believe in me, also watch over all those that I love and keep them safe in their travels, in Your healing arms forever. And Bless them more than I have been blessed, Amen.
By the way- I finally got all my official document outlining my Patent certificate. So- I am a patented inventor!
Here is a shot of the stand if you never saw one, I think they will sell like hotcakes as soon as people know about them!
I need a business partner one that know about business, I am the mad inventor, I need a mogul to help me attain my millions.
KNOW ANY MOGULS/ SEND EM MY WAY! LOL Here is the stand- and a guitar- an a pic of what a homemade drum sander looks like.

Not all bright lights and fame-

Well I have been home now since February- not much happenin luthiery wise- We all kinda got gypped on part of the program,
So it is still an ongoing self education-Not jobs at guitar factories, and small builders are just that, they usually work alone.
I have a few guitars in the works but not all that I need to finish them.I am trying to stay busy with repairs- not much there either. And I am actually playing more gig than I have in a long time-Trying to get the custom stands started, but like they say it takes money to make money-I will have a website up soon, I have to try to get something going. I guess nobody got successful by not working, so I keep working. I hope this was all not all for naught.I have more money going out than in, by Gods blessings, but I can't say its not easy to not feel defeated. So any of you who pray I would ask that you do. Pray for divine intervention, that someone walks in my door tomorrow and changes my world. I am so grateful to all of you who supported me emotionally in this. I will wake up tomorrow and go to work and try to be positive. and get one step closer to success, right? Ok well, wish me luck, soon as I get something for people to see, I will post it up here. This is a repair restore I did 1961 Silvertone Jupiter that came to me in pieces-Made a little money on this, I hope I get more. It was weird, all the tears I have been doing this I had the parts in a bin that I needed, It's like it was already planned for me to fix this guitar-Sorry if this post sounds a little morose-I am just a disheartened,
Things will pick -up soon. God Bless My little Angel Michele,I know she has my back and all my friends I know you do too,
I LOVE YOU ALL and hope you all have or will get to see these and the new ones soon!!! Blessings...

Finally Graduated-with a B!!!

Well, after 5 months of intense training at Roberto-Venn, I finally graduated! For some reason, they saved my diploma presentation for last. I was very choked up as I received a very large cheer and request for a speech from my peers. " I am the old guy here, you all made me feel very welcome, and young-love you all" was my big speech. It was touch and go there for a while, I literally finished my acoustic guitar just two days before graduation. I will still do some final "dialing in" here at home but overall they sound and play awesome and those who have seen and played them, have approved and received critical acclaim. there are pictures on my Facebook page. We did a semi-pro photo shoot with my friend "Stinky" Steven Kingsbury, between us we got some great shots. also in the photos are my U.S, Patented guitars stands, which I hope will be my bread and butter while I try to get my business off the ground. O will be concentrating on the stands and guitar repair and restoration while still trying to get the gear I need to do the building of instruments. I have three in the works already. I would like to thank all of you who supported me and read my silly little blog. I again will ask for prayer that it will be shown to me how to make this work, and that all the financial aspects will be taken care of. All your prayers have gotten me through this and I am so grateful for you all. If nothing else, I did it. I finally got a degree in something that has been my life's passion and wound up with 3 beautiful guitars to show for it. Thank you all. I have been busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest since I got home. Designing cards, fliers, promo packages, price lists, even guitar picks and t-shirts. I will let you all know via this blog as things progress. I intend to continue with this blog as the journey continues. I will start a new chapter called, In pursuit of Luthiery or some other silliness.
I would also like to thank you all, who knew of Michele's surgery, for your prayers, she is doing fine and is back to taking over the world. Please pray for her Aunt Jane who is having a very serious surgery today, for success and recovery.
I have three guitars in the process of being built, still need to get the gear to finish them and have some pretty cool design sketches as well. I am currently seeking any kind of guitar related employment-so keep your ears to the ground! Repair, Restoration, I will fix any kind of instrument from Guitars to Drums, I will even work on pianos! As long as it has strings!
Guitar stands are available for order now-I will take orders for guitars but I am not sure yet about turnaround time,
So you will have to be patient!
With that- Here are a few pics-of the final models, remember to click on them to get the full effect and also check my Facebook for more! Thanks for reading and watch for new updates about new and exciting models. God Bless.

The Home Stretch

Well Christmas has come and gone, heading into 2010. I have been back in California for nearly two weeks and even in these lean economic times I can say it was pretty Merry. I have seen some of my family and some good friends and I must say I am looking forward to returning to AZ to finish up, come back home and get started. Where? not sure yet. I am trying to put a plan in place, we will see what God has in store for me. The pictures you are seeing for the most part completed guitars, construction-wise, they are done, just final tweaks on the electric and final assembly, neck to body, bridge, frets and nut o the acoustic. The last four weeks are to have been the repair and restoration portion of the school. We lost some time due to instructor's illnesses "The Scourge of RV" and we are now playing catch-up, just trying to get the guitars done. I somehow managed to not miss much time, only about 4 or 5 hours total. I hope the last section is complete and we get all we should out of it. If not, It's the Dan Ehrlewine book.He is one of the most foremost experts on the subject of repair and restoration and is part of the curriculums text.The pixs are of the headstock, back and sides of the acoustic after spending about a week in the lacquer booth, I will have to flat sand it, and buff it to final finish. But if I must say, it is rather spectacular looking wood. The electric is nearly complete, I just need to carve the nut, set up and intonate and make a cavity cover for the electronics.
I have been remiss about staying up to date on the blog, but it has been a mad rush to the end. I hope to have at least two more entries, before I end school and then start fresh with the blog detailing the beginnings of JD Casey Custom Guitars.
I have lots of design ideas and look forward to getting started. More in January! God Bless and and have a safe New Year celebration!
Scotty

Nearing The Finish Line!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I did-even though I was not with all my family, my AZ family made me feel very welcome, and my wife, Michele came down for a quick visit. It was great! A few nice walks a great dinner and nice lunch and Church service with one of my new friends, Dave Beahm. Dave is quite a craftsman and will be a force in luthiery, be sure to watch for SunBeahm Guitars. We all have so much to be thankful for.
Here it is Saturday afternoon, Dec. 5, I can't believe it! At first the time seemed to go slow, now it is rushing by! I am supposed to be wet-sanding my electric in preparation for buffing it out, That is the final stage before final assembly, which will take place in January during the Repair and Restoration section of the class.If you saw the pics of the electric hanging after final spraying the buff-out should make it about 100 times shinier and bring out the 3D quality in the woods. This week has been very arduous in that we have begun the completion of the acoustics. Last week-I finished the shape carving of the headstock, all the inlay of the headstock and fretboard, radiused the fretboard, carved the heel where the neck meets the body, and prep sanded the guitar body for shooting lacquer, 2 days on the heel carving and 2 days on the hand-sanding-9 hour days-do the math! During the heel carving and after all the hours spent inlay and fretboard and headstock, part of the process is band-sawing the edges of the neck to prepare for final shaping. To my dismay as the scrap came of, a large area of checking, where there is natural occurring crack, or separataion in the grain of the wood. NOT GOOD! It is not visible from the outside, and it is quite a surprise! Well, I did not want to lose any time or work I had put in to start a new neck. ASK THE INSTRUCTOR WHAT TO DO. THe answer is, "What would YOU do?" Its part of preparing for problem solving for the repair portion of the school and in my future. My suggestions was to either make a slurry of super-glue or epoxy mixed with mahogany dust and force it in there, clamp it closed, wait for it to dry and sand down the outside. Or at worst case- cut a chunk out, replace it with new, glue it and hope for a good match.
All good ideas, but, John Reuter, who is an acclaimed builder and repairman, had other ideas. He found among his tools, an old backsaw, which just happened to be as wide as the checking area, about 40 thousandths of an inch. He very carefully sawed through the checking, all the way to the bottom. and the we took a piece of scrap,form my neck, matched the grain and pore direction of the checking area, thickness sanded it to 39 thousandths slid in in with glue, carved the outside with a chisel and the sanded it flush to the neck heel. It is virtually invisible! it was a great opportunity for me to get private one on one instruction from one of the best. Be sure to check out John Reuter Guitars on the internet. By the way- I was contacted by a stranger via email who stumble upon the blog. I will include the emails here.---- Hi, Scott. My name is Rob and I will be attending RV next year. I came across your blog about a month ago and want to tell you what a valuable resource it has been for me and I'm sure it will continue to be so for prospective students in the years to come.
I'm trying to gauge the right approach to my tenure at RV so I was wondering if you'd mind if I ask a few questions. I'm 37 years old (older than your average student, I'm sure) and I'm not too keen on pursuing an internship upon graduation for that very reason (no spring chicken). I'm hoping to get started right away on my own business once I return home. I have 4 guitar designs and 1 bass design in mind, I just need to be shown the best way to build them. Have you found, thus far, that RV gives you the education necessary to create just about any design you want? Or more specifically, are they more than willing to help you see your designs come to fruition even if they don't follow the basics taught by the school? I'm worried that I may be coming in with the wrong approach. I mean I will definitely keep an open mind, but I'm pretty sure I know what I want. But perhaps I'm being delusional and an internship is necessary.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for your time and I look forward to the next blog update.
-Rob
My reply-
Rob-
Nice to hear from you, thanks for your kind words. I too am no spring chicken-55 this month, and after a lifetime as a guitarist, and collector, hobbyist builder, I too decided to follow my dream to be a builder. If you have not already toured the facility, I suggest you do. I was a bit surprised after my first visit. The atmosphere is to say a little, rustic.
But nonetheless, the staff is very knowledgeable and RV has produced many, many prominent builders in the 20+
years they have been around, at one time the only school of its kind.
It is my understanding that they will be moving into a new facility maybe by the spring. I would check into that. I thought we would be the first class in the new building, but I guess permits, etc. made that impossible.
Apprenticeship, I think will be mandatory, even for an old guy like me. There is so much to know, More than I ever thought, I learn more everyday than I thought possible. If you want to build on your own and have the where with all
to finance it all yourself, then it may be doable. Many of the older guys are planning to do just that. Myself included.
But I also think that the amount you can learn from other luthiers is an invaluable asset, so I plan to work with or apprentice with whomever, I can, whenever I can. The curriculum is fairly demanding, more than one would think, and physically demanding as well. Long days and lots of hard work. But these guys are the best at what they do.
As far as design goes, the first two instruments can be of your own design, but must be approved by the instructors. There are some limitations. One solid body electric and one acoustic.
Headstock designs, inlay, etc. are up to you upon approval. Full scale drawings of all instruments have to be approved. It is pretty much wide open design wise for third instruments. But still must be approved. The wood selections are wonderful. I think the only limitations on the first two are, no pickguards and no chambering or carved tops. A dreadnaught or an OM as far as acoustics go. I had to adjust my designs a bit as well.
Well, thats about it. I am glad I reached at least one person with my blog. It is my intention to increase awareness about the art of Luthiery. If you don't mind I would like to share this communication, via the blog, with my other readers.
Your email information will be kept confidential. Good luck in your endeavors and if I can be of any help in the future,please feel free to write. You will find the community of Luthiers is a very open and sharing group.
I am here, at RV by the encouragement of other builders as well.
Best of everything!
Cheers.
Scott D. Jeffers
J.D. Casey Custom Guitars!

His reply----
Thanks, Scott! You've answered my questions and then some! I'm glad to hear the third instrument is open to anything. You know, I saw a post in a forum from a guy (Elysian Guitars??) who attended RV and built 5 guitars while he was there. Pretty much a mix of everything, which is what I want to do (i.e. flat top, carved top, chambered body, tremolo/fixed bridge, fretboard binding, peghead binding...a little of everything). Financially I can manage this, but not sure if I'll learn quickly enough to do so. I'll have to wait and see how I progress.
Yes, by all means post my email. I hope others will follow suit as well. You know, I'm surprised RV doesn't have something like this already on their website. It's a good advertisement (you should be getting paid!).
Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. Maybe our paths will cross in the future and I can't wait to see pictures of your final projects. Take care.
-Rob

It's really great to know that all of you are out there watching my progress, and even better that it might be inspiring someone else, a stranger, to follow their dream! Thanks Rob!
The pics you are seeing are the final carved and inlayed headstock fretboard and neck heel, and the "butt wedge" or end wedge of the acoustic-also very difficult to do!. Oh!- and a sticker I designed for the school-I left my mark on Roberto-Venn for life! I will post pics of other labels I designed for other builders in the next issue!
BTW the necks were also fitted to the bodies this week-The hardest part yet! must allow for neck pitch and side to side straightness- Very difficult!! But rewarding..
Love you all hope to see some of you at winter break!, 2 weeks from now and also in January-Santa is coming Home
Standby for Guitar Reveal News in January !!!!!!
God Bless you all
with much love-gratitude, and Thanksgiving.
Scotty

New Photos!

alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404090130260989170" />

Yet again it has been awhile since my last post. The days seem to be getting shorter as we have more and more to accomplish,
and very little time to get it done. The weather is a little better,even a little rain today, Saturday. As you can see by the pics, I think in order they are the finished, (new) Headstock Cap and neck,the body top and body back. I opted not to do any color,sunburst or tinting because the top is so beautifully figured and just shot clear. I have finished all my spraying of lacquer in the spray booth, about 25 coats with scuff sanding in between every seven coats. It is amazing to see the guitar come alive when you do the very first spray coat. It will now cure for 14 days and then final sanding and the long awaited buff-out.
The spraying process seemed to come naturally to me, If it were something I was to choose to do,it is a specialty that could be quite profitable, mind numbing, but profitable. Then the close up of the "birdhouse" the top, back and sides glued up with the label inside, and the finish sanding, or leveling in process. Bubinga, which I don't think I will ever bend again, is very hard, brittle and bumpy, making it very difficult to hand sand. I can only go about an hour of handing before I have to stop and do something else for awhile. I will have to find a mild way to sand with a sander when I get home. the close up is to show how beautiful this wood figuring is. I had been quite ill for about a week or more, but got the doc to send me some pills, feeling mostly better now. I am making some good friends here, and networking contacts. I will be starting to create a brand new resume for my new career, i think I will be specializing in repair and restoration while I build on the side and quite possibly work for some one as well. If you know any one with lotsa guitars or a shop that may need help I am ready in January 2010.
I raised my grade up, so I am now eligible to do a third instrument. I am planning to identical guitars which will be milled and cut and then finished at home. I need to concentrate my free time on creating templates from the school's vast collection.
Well thats about it for know, going to see one of the school's employee's band tonight -The Brown Tones should be fun!
Thanks again for reading and God Bless!

I got the turboocaloosis and the sinus flu!

BY THE WAY - ALL OF THESE PICS ARE CLICKABLE TO GET A LARGER VIEW-IF YA DID'NT ALREADY KNOW!
PRETTY WOOD!

< REMIND YOU OF MR. GREEN JEANS??



ALS0-This is my friend and classmate Sheriff Frank Hughes-He is a retired AZ Sheriff who was shot in the line of duty, not too serious, and is attending classes with his son, Scott. Roll call goes, Frank, Scott, Scotty, etc. I had bought an apron and the strap around my neck was bothering me, I had helped him with some design work for his inlay, and he offered to have his wife, Sue, sew something on to pad the strap. I thought that was very, nice. When he returned, not only had she fixed the apron but also sewed a new apron out of old Levi's- Very stylish eh? I hope to meet his wife soon and thank her accordingly.
NICE MAN!

Not that serious-There was a very bad virus / flu thing going around the shop- it actually made one guy so ill, he was out for over a week! I have been overdosing on C since I got here so that may have stayed it off for a while-but this weekend, it finally got me-I went to sleep early friday, and took Nyquil saturday, slept for almost 14 hours! I may have nipped it in the bud! Staying on top of it-I have not missed a day yet and don't plan to! So all is well, thanks for your on-going prayers.
As far as guitar building goes-we are VERY busy. Trying to get our electrics, which are essentially done, into the spray booth. That
takes six days to spray, and then two weeks to harden, I have to finish putting frets on my electric neck and do the finish sanding, which is mostly done. We are in the process of getting our acoustic bodies assembled, and then carve and inlay the acoustic necks-that, on top of lectures, demos, studying and trying to stay well, I have been quite busy. Weekends are such a blessing!
I mentioned last entry that I was adding BING DING, mispelled, typing error, Binding, the decorative strip around the edge of the top of the guitar, is in, tortoise shell, looks really nice-The bubinga headcap I had put on the electric is gone, there was a slight flaw and I had to re-do it, I was not pleased, but in the long run, the new one matched the body better. so all is well and now I know how to fix that problem in the future!. Not many pics this week, as I just have not had time for much of anything.
I will post what I have , I think me carving top braces. Thats all for now-be praying for Lloyd, He is the one that missed so much- he has a week to catch up, starting Monday. Love to all-see you at Christmas!
SDJ