Exclusive Video: The First (Good) Thing I Ever Made
Added 2019-09-06 01:33:25 +0000 UTCFriends:
I wanted to go back in time and explore one of the things that got me into craft work in the first place.
Here's an exclusive video about my lap steel guitar: the first significant thing I ever hand crafted. In a lot of ways, this is the piece that started it all. There's a lot of story here.
Hope you enjoy!
--Rex
Comments
Ellen, you should totally build a violin. Stewart Macdonald makes kits and I think a kit is the PERFECT way to get doing with a project like that. I don't they cost too much, either.
Rex Krueger
2020-03-06 11:44:49 +0000 UTCRex, Your guitar looks amazing and I would like to hear how it sounds. I also wanted to say you are an inspiration. Like woodworking, I also play the violin as an hobby. For about a year now I have been toying with the idea of making a violin. I keep putting it off was excuses because I felt it was to over my head advance for my skill level. Hearing how you made your guitar has renew the thought enough that I think I maybe crazy enough to give the project a try. Thank you for all your videos. They have helped me advance my skills in away I thought wasn't possible, as well as introduced me to a few tools I never ever heard of before now like the plane iron. When I was tought woodworking my dad never told me about a plan iron, so the first thing I think when I first watched some of your videos was, what is that wierd but cool thing and I had to learn more. Thanks again for all you do. Ellen
Ellen Sloan
2020-03-05 02:57:26 +0000 UTCI really do want to do a steel video. Just gotta find some time...
Rex Krueger
2020-01-09 12:12:01 +0000 UTCRex, I am likely your newest patron. Browsing your older content with my youngest son, who is also a fan. He would love to see a video of you playing some instruments, including this steel guitar. Please keep creating the high quality content you are, we look forward to your new releases. Thank you.
N Kachur
2020-01-09 03:23:54 +0000 UTCDye is absolutely the way to go. You won't be sorry. And now for the geeks: the neck pickup is a P-90. Unknown maker, but really high output. I favor E9 tuning: B D F# G# B E (low to high). It's not super common, but it's a pretty easy switch from standard guitar.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-13 10:22:11 +0000 UTCI absolutely want to hear you play! Now the geek questions. Is that a humbucker at the neck? What tuning(s) do you favor? Also, thanks for talking about the finish. My current project is a bed I'm building for a grandson (yeah, I'm that old. The kid's now a young adult). After unsatisfying results working with pine, I started over using poplar. He wants the bed to be black, but not painted. You've convinced me that dye is the way to go. Thanks again.
Mark L
2019-09-12 15:25:15 +0000 UTCThat would be AWESOME. I love drums. I'd love to make some.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-12 00:07:40 +0000 UTCI build drums for a living for many years and i can truly appreciate that instrument!! i would love to build some drums with you any time!!!
crister eriksson
2019-09-11 22:20:52 +0000 UTCI'll get it happening! Just found out it needs a new switch, but it's in the mail.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-07 16:30:32 +0000 UTCThat's pretty awesome! The same sentiment is how I've made my career in IT. Keep learning and trying. And I'd love to hear you play. 😀
Jessica McIntosh
2019-09-07 15:45:02 +0000 UTCHi Rex, go ahead, make some noise! The House Carpenter? If I were a Carpenter? If I Had a Hammer? They are not requests, I was just digging the theme. ;)
Pierre-Olivier Fineltin
2019-09-07 12:19:37 +0000 UTCI know how you feel. I had a very hard time learning to read. Repeated the 1st grade. Then I got a doctorate in English and became University Faculty. The way you start on something says very little about where you will end up.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-07 11:34:36 +0000 UTCHi rex what does bob wills and south park have in common and Mr hanky poo hi de hi
THE VICTORIAN WORKSHOP
2019-09-06 23:06:32 +0000 UTCTruly, my friend, you figure it out!
Alex Larson
2019-09-06 23:05:44 +0000 UTCI'm not there yet but, I'm getting closer!
Nic Beurskens
2019-09-06 22:40:09 +0000 UTCThanks Rex. I would love to hear you play. I like your sharing of your process of development. I think this is not done enough. In high school and college I liked math. I wasn't real good at it. It took me forever to figure out I just had to keep doing it and my understanding was typically one semester behind what I was being taught. I sure wish someone had told me that is not unusual and is just fine. So I like your sharing and encouraging people to just keep going, even if they really don't know what they are doing. That is something kept far to secret.
Duncan
2019-09-06 22:30:10 +0000 UTCCool, cool, cool...
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 22:19:08 +0000 UTCOh, Patron only for sure!
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 22:18:55 +0000 UTCMake it so!
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 22:18:33 +0000 UTC"100 Year Furniture" Now THAT is a goal to work towards. I'm stealing that.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 22:18:23 +0000 UTCIt's really not political at all; you're just making a practical observation and one that I agree with.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 22:16:01 +0000 UTCThank you for posting this, and Yes, I would love to hear you play it! And thanks for something you said that re-enforces something I've been saying for years - There's simply too much emphasis on the idea that a "College Degree" is the ultimate and most important goal in the life of a student. You were very fortunate to recognise that the degree you were seeking was not going to be life-fulfilling for you, and you switched career paths. There is NO shame in that whatsoever! We do not encourage students today to pursue manual arts, and instead allow the "Ed-biz" to dictate where and what they will study (and spend big $$ on), and this too often leads to wasted lives and money. The idea that an education in the trades is somehow practically and socially inferior to a "real degree" is utter BS, and you've proven that! Thank you for that! Sorry to get all political here, but that's the way I feel about it.
Howard Tuckey
2019-09-06 21:43:09 +0000 UTCI made a music stand a few years back for my girlfriend. First project I ever did with rough timber. Jatoba and curly spalted maple. That's how I fell in love with hand tools. Those two woods either exploded or disintegrated on the jointer or in the planer at a friend's shop. I really could have used your channel back then. Like you, that's the first project that I am still proud of after a few years. I put roughly 300 hours into something I could do in less than half the time now! After that project I set a goal for myself. Only make 100 year furniture. I started researching and watching hundreds of YouTube videos and, learning everything I could about joinery and materials. It's also when I started signing and dating my work. I'm solidly in that intermediate category as a woodworker, just waiting for the experience to rack up before I can say I've got it. But, this video spoke to me.
Nic Beurskens
2019-09-06 19:27:35 +0000 UTCWould very much like to hear you play.
Dick Edie
2019-09-06 18:50:43 +0000 UTCWhat does bob wills and south park have in common and Mr hanky poo hi de hi
THE VICTORIAN WORKSHOP
2019-09-06 17:47:10 +0000 UTCA short video of you playing would be interesting. I think it would make good Patreon only content.
diyVT
2019-09-06 15:10:17 +0000 UTCMusic, music, music ........
Mark Petersen
2019-09-06 14:49:57 +0000 UTCI call it my poor man's CNC router
Matthew Leigh
2019-09-06 14:45:54 +0000 UTCMatthew, I tend to forget that places to make 3D prints are popping up all over the place. will have to keep that in mind.
Bill Smithem
2019-09-06 14:37:29 +0000 UTCIf you can use sketchup, you can make a router template. Libraries are starting to get the printers these days, if I didn't have my own I could go to my local library with the file and get it printed out
Matthew Leigh
2019-09-06 14:35:23 +0000 UTCNow THAT is s great idea. I've never made a template for anything as it seemed like I would just be making the part twice. If I ever get a 3D printer I'll have to give that a try.
Bill Smithem
2019-09-06 14:35:19 +0000 UTCNow that is an appropriate song for this build. Nice!
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 14:33:34 +0000 UTCSpeedy West is the man! I really like Bob Will's records. Western Swing forever!
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 14:31:33 +0000 UTCOh. My. God. How did I never think of that? That is a BRILLIANT way to generate router templates. (Of course, this is forgetting that I don't own a 3d printer and I have no idea whatsoever how to program one.)
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 14:27:34 +0000 UTCI'm extremely jealous. I hate making templates but use them for everything.
A1BASE
2019-09-06 14:26:35 +0000 UTCJust got up to the templating part. I've been having really good results making router templates with my 3d printer. You can design them on the computer in all kinds of funky shapes, print them out in a kind of L cross section and they stick down brilliantly. Instant router template, no fiddling.
Matthew Leigh
2019-09-06 13:55:14 +0000 UTCLove what you did with the tuners. PLAY IT! Definitely.
Bill Smithem
2019-09-06 13:24:31 +0000 UTCHow about a bit of western swing .speedy west .steal guitar player non pedal .stunning peace of work rex .I use lots and lots of reverb lol kind regards shaun
THE VICTORIAN WORKSHOP
2019-09-06 13:15:27 +0000 UTCCool. Another guitarist! About the build... Stuff that works... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgCyXw2EWuA
Bill Smithem
2019-09-06 13:11:31 +0000 UTCYou're completely right and I do get a big feeling of accomplishment from the piece, even now, almost a decade later.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 10:26:16 +0000 UTCI think the fact that she likes it enough to display it is GREAT! You clearly did something right.
Rex Krueger
2019-09-06 10:25:18 +0000 UTCI finally found the time to make my first wooden mallet.... it works but its all kinds of wrong. My girlfriend immediately told me if I dont want it she will use it as a decoration. I guess its not bad if she wants it as a decoration. But i learned though this build and my next one will be better... I hope. Thanks for sharing.
Shanni Marmen
2019-09-06 09:48:13 +0000 UTCGreat job for an unexperienced woodworker. And it doesn't matter that you used unusual and timeconsuming ways to get things done. It just shows that you have the imagination to solve a problem for which you don't have a solution (yet). Also I like that you use other materials to get the same results as when you would have bought a more expensive original part. A lot of people go for convenience while they can save a lot of money by making it yourself. It may not look as slick as a storebought part, but hey, YOU made it. And it works. And while you get more experience at it, they start looking better. Maybe even as good as, or better that the original part. But it will always be yours, and you can say that YOU made it...
Frans van Ballegooijen
2019-09-06 06:47:20 +0000 UTC
