Trusses were delivered today!

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

How close are the dogs? I guess it all revolves around that pretty much. As to the resiliant channel, I would use type 2 and tenacious tolerance control. Thats what they do in the mill. It amazes me what the guys do to hold tolerances and build things correctly. I've seen them build jigs 30' long and 15' wide on the floor for custom machining 3/4" mdf parts for ELIPSE shape showcase lines and backislands. What a jig that was. WAAAAAAAY before CNC. Old world problem solving, to make a custom machine for 5 hp routers to cut the parts in tolerances of 1/32" in 30'! Glad it wasn't me. I just had to detail(draft) them and the parts.

Or the jig they built to machine a 6' replica of a GOLFBALL. Out of mdf. Man, can those guys build. One guy especially, whom everyone refers to as the JIGMASTER. He has been a millworker for 55 yrs. Talk about craftsmanship, whew!!! You name it, and he's built it. Even furniture for a KING!

Anyway, it was a thought, and only you know your actual conditions there, and what you can do. Keep us informed though. I'm always interested in your progress Michael.

You are going to have a killer studio when done. Hey, what species are you using for your various millwork? Jams, doors, console, baseboard etc. Anything in particular? Or are you painting most everything? I know hardwoods are EXPENSIVE, but so is a Fender Precision Bass And when push comes to shove, sometimes , something has to give somewhere!

 

[Michael Jones]

I really want to build some of John's varible diffuser/absorbers!
For the frame for those, I'll probably just use pine, but for the finished work, and exposed wood I'm going to use Birch.
So, it would be nice if the millwork matched those.
But to buy hardwood millwork is insanely expensive!

However, my dad, who is as passionate about woodworking as we are about recording, has a really nice woodworking shop. And he lives about 30 miles from me. I mean he has every imaginable woodworking tool in there, from planers, to joiners, jig and band saws, radial arm saws, router tables, you name it. He even has millwork cutters. So, I'm thinking I'll just buy the bulk stock Birch, cut it to size and mill it there.

I really, REALLY like the color scheme that was done at Joe Egan's studio (on John's site) so, I'm going to canabalize some of the ideas from there.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

So, I'm thinking I'll just buy the bulk stock Birch, cut it tosize and mill it there

Hi Michael, say, do you have solid stock Birch available there? Out here, for years, solid Birch was a no no price wise, and availability wise. Panels are abundantly available, but not solid. We have always substituted Alder for solid Birch, as it finishes out very close to Birch.
Anymore though, ANY hardwoods ARE becoming prohibitively expensive for the average person. If you saw the amount and types of hardwoods we go through for Macys, it would astound you. They buy complete FLITCHS in New York, and when we order the veneered panels or solid stock, it must be cut from those FLITCHS. On really rare species, we use a computer CAM program, that figures out every piece to be cut from panels, so we know we won't run out. Some of these panels are VERY long. Up to 18' for column enclosures. Custom made panels and veneered. EXPENSIVE is an understatement. Slicing a veneer 18' long is not something they do everyday. First you have to have the flitch. And a machine to handle that size. The old supply and demand routine. If macys is remodeling 5 stores, chances are, there are 5 fixture contractors such as I work for, all ordering material from the same flitch's, Talk about a mad dash to get it first!! Macys does not allow substitution. And species such as gaboon or bubinga are not readily available if you run out. Ha! Try to even find them.

BTW Michael, does your dad or yourself do any veneer work. The reason I ask is I collect veneer cut offs and have a TON of short pieces about 4' x 4' and less. Good for small projects. I've got all kinds of species. If your interested in some, I'd be glad to ship you a few no charge except for shipping. I do a lot of crafts work, like little chests and box's etc. Let me know if your interested.
fitz

 

[Michael Jones]

Last time I looked Home Depot was carrying dimension lumber in Birch. 1x4, 1x6 and 1x8 up to 10 feet long.
But if not them, there's a couple of places in town, specialty lumber yards, that do carry it for sure, as well as a ton of exotic species.

Have never tried to do anything in veneer.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

BTW Michael, heres a hint for using panels as hardwood pieces. Since hardwoods are so expensive, unless the piece we are machining has a machined profile, almost all of our work is produced from veneered sheet goods. DOOR JAMBS, BASE, EVEN DOORS.
In order to save money, we use special joint machining such as lock miters, edgebanding with solid stock and veneers, and splining panels and solid stock togeather. Any thing that is a flat profile such as your wall base, can be cut from panels and edgebanded. Usually you can purchase veneer in common species in a roll that has a heat applied adhesive on the rear face. Especially birch. Simply use a household iron and iron it on the edge. Since the panels are usually 8' to 10' long, carfull consideration of length demands and end joint conditions determine such decisions. Once finished and installed though, who knows the difference? Ha!
fitz