Lee Gendvilas's Page

Lee,

Thanks for your offer!  I'd like to take you up on it.  How can I get the jig?  I get to Phoenix about once every 6 months.  I'd be glad to pay for shipping priority mail both ways if that'll work for you.

It's probably best to use direct email or phone about this.

My email is lklose@cox.net.  Phone:520-603-3498

Thanks again,

Larry

Lee,

My bridge is on the way back from the maker so I'd like to borrow your fitting jig. If you'll send it priority mail, I'll reimburse you for the cost and send it back the same way as soon as I'm done. If you have any questions, please give me a call: 520-603-3498.

You can send it to:
Larry Klose
1116 W. Camino Monte Cristo
Green Valley, AZ 85614

If you could tell me again the URL for the band you're in, I'd appreciate it. I wrote it down but that note has been lost.

Thanks,

Larry

My email is lklose@cox.net

Larry

Hey Lee,

I just saw you message. Give me a couple of days and I'll post more about my caul making. I actually modify ones from stew mac that are close to the radius I need but there is no reason it wouldn't work to make them from scratch. 

Hi Lee,

here is a link to a thread about the caul set that Andy Birko is now offering. There is a lot of info and some pictures in it.OLF thread

 I'm not sure if your looking to make a whole set or a few to fill in gaps in the typical sets. I made some originally for filling in gaps as I needed. For example Stew mac has a 7.5" and a 9" caul and I needed one in between so I made an 8.5".

Making a whole set with my method would be very time consuming so I was thrilled when Andy came up with his set. I charge $350 for a re-fret so the cost was a no brainer for me.

Calculating a progression of radius's that have an even progression and pass through important factory standard radiuses would not be hard, but certainly  time consuming for me. Dave Collins took it on and did the heavy lifting for the set.

Why don't you look over the thread and maybe I can answer specific questions you have.

Are you looking for information about my technique for making them or calculating the radius progression?

This is the formula for calculating Sagitta (s).

The idea is to change it to solve for the radius (r) and use an incremental increase in the sagitta and 1/2d (half the width of a brass caul) to calculate the next radius.

calculating for two in the set I have, (6.8" and 7.1"), I get  an increase in sagitta of .005"

So, if you could slide a .005" gauge under a caul in the set, the next larger diameter you could slide a .010" under, the next .015" under and so on.

It gives you an idea of the large number of calculations Dave did to come up with a set.

Basically, you need a lot more cauls in the smaller radius' to minimize big jumps.

Hope that helps.

Hi Lee, 

In the example the photo's show I was making a 8.5" caul out of a stew Mac 7.25".

first I convert the outside shape, (your #1 drawing) by running it on my mdf pattern with adhesive sandpaper on it. That processes this:

You can see the hollo (your#2 curve is incomplete. next I run the new 8.5" radius against the pattern with the ball cutter peeking out a tiny amount. It helps to mark it with a sharpie so you can see whats happening.

Small increments, flip it over after each pass to keep it centered, and watch your fingers!

Once your even and parallel with the edges your good.

Hope that helps.

Hi Lee,

Rather than you sending me what you have, let me put together some "sets" of worm, crown and shaft. That way if what I send doesn't mesh with your gear, you still might have enough for what you need.

On a whim I started to look at various tuners and there are some six on a plate tuners for 12 string on Ebay. These could be an alternative if the shaft centers match, 

Where should I send the stuff?

Be safe,

Joshua

PS e mail is jlevinepstein@verizon.net