Getting started in building your own Ukulele

2012-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

I will show you how to build your very own Ukulele from a log of wood to a very fine Instrument to play with your friends, partner or even with your Music Group/Band. This Uke (above) is made from a wooden pallet that i found behind a store from a foreign shipment that came from overseas. this pallet was made with maple and oak wood, this was a great find. if you stay with me on this blog i will show you how to make your own tools that will stay with you for a lifetime. I did not have any training in doing this, all what i write and show you is from my very own experiences. Every detail on this Uke is handmade except for the hardware. Stay with me more to come.

Safety first, always follow safety rules from the tools you use.

This is a 24 inch log of Elm that has been dried out, i took a simple log splitter chisel and hit it with a sledge hammer splitting the log in half

Next i will run it through a Wood planer on both sides until i have two flat surfaces on both half's.

Now i will cut the half log in quarters on my band saw.

Now I have quartered logs to work with. next i will cut four pieces for my sound board and back also two more pieces for sides. this process is very slow just let the blade cut thru, do not force the saw to cut, let the saw blade to cut a strait line. if you force the log thru you will have an uneven cut.

I cut my panels at 3/16, keep every two pieces together for book matching. i use clamps to keep them.

Next i will run them thru my thickness sander until smoothed on both sides on all six pieces.

This is my thickness sander that i made myself, i used the parts and motor from an old exhaust vent. i also made the drum from cutting holes in plywood with a 3" hole saw and drilling two 14" holes in each piece and glue and clamp them with threaded rods together. i glued some sand paper on adjustable table and ran the sander until i got a smooth drum. next i installed roll sandpaper on drum and it is ready to go.

Book matching and joining

Forming jig for sides

Ukulele's does not have to look the same all the time. this Ukulele will look like a Puertorican
Cuatro

Formed sides and front / Back joined

Glue laminated block

Tracing sound board

This block is now a Mold for gluing sides to front and back

Drum sander jig for a drill press

Forming wood strips for bracing

Ukulele Building

Getting started in building your own Ukulele