Back to Basics: Working on some new coasters

@TheHorse (238268)
Walnut Creek, California
April 7, 2016 11:12am CST
Collings Guitars of Austin Texas was kind enough to send me another box of raw sound holes from their guitar manufacturing plant. So I'll be getting back to work making some new coasters. The spruce sound holes they send me are light in color, so I generally stain them with Minwax red mahogany, Jacobean, dark walnut, or some combination thereof. Then I coat them in satin polyurethane so they don't warp, and finally got glue felt bottom on them. Each pair of coasters takes several weeks to make, so I usually make two pairs at a time. I promised Collings I'd send the some finished coasters for their shop. Pretty cool that they send me the raw materials for free. There ARE good, collaborative people in this world.
13 people like this
12 responses
mommaj
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
7 Apr 16
That's awesome that they send it to you free. They look really cool. So you are artsy too.
1 person likes this
mommaj
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
7 Apr 16
@TheHorse That is creative. I'm probably not one to judge though. I think it is a great idea. Functional and fun. LOL
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Apr 16
@mommaj I do like combining the fun and the functional.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Apr 16
Well, this ties in with music and wood, two of my favorite things. I wish I were more "creative," but maybe this is kind of creative.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
7 Apr 16
You sure don't find many companies like that any more who will send you free materials. These are definitely good people.
1 person likes this
marcyaz
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
8 Apr 16
@TheHorse That is so cool.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 16
@Marcyaz People who make high end acoustic guitars seem cool in general. I've toured the Santa Cruz Guitars and Larrivee Guitars facilities here in CA, but haven't made it to Austin to check out Collings.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Apr 16
Yep. And my main guitar is a Collings. It's an exellent guitar.
2 people like this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Apr 16
That is really something.
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Apr 16
@TheHorse ....What you are doing.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 16
What's that?
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
8 Apr 16
You should not be revealing your sources Pony! That makes it easy for others to come up with such things effectively destroying beauty of your original thinking.
1 person likes this
vanny
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
8 Apr 16
@TheHorse ..the coasters wood source I meant and the rate you got them for.
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 16
Heh heh. I don't reveal ALL of my secrets. And one has to learn by doing. But I've become more open about my loudspeaker refinishing techniques. I'm still "the best" because I've been doing it for awhile. And not many have the requisite patience anyway.
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Apr 16
who knows, you might have a(nother) side business there!
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Apr 16
@TheHorse prob, you put work into what they were going to toss
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 16
I've sold a couple of pairs on eBay and Craigslist (for like $10), just to see if I could. But I'm not sure how I feel about selling the coasters when Collings gives me the sound holes for free. I mostly just give them to friends. Am I being too "moral"?
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Apr 16
I don't know if you had mentioned it before, but my first thought was "two weeks?" Then I reread all the stuff you do to them and it makes sense.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
7 Apr 16
Several weeks, not two. Going on two hours of sleep.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Apr 16
@teamfreak16 A lot of the time is just letting stuff dry. I have to let one coat of stain "cure" before I put on another. Same with the polyurethane. I put on several coats, so the coasters won't warp if you actually use them (many of my friends do).
1 person likes this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (56195)
• Canada
7 Apr 16
What a great idea to recycle that good wood, hope that you can post a picture of the finished results.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Apr 16
I posted one above (or below), but I'll post more when I get he next batch done.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
8 Apr 16
You are lucky to have those friendly people sending you those coasters for free. I like the finish.
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
9 Apr 16
That is very nice of them.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Apr 16
Seems like there's a positie vibe among high-end guitar manufactirers. They're small compainies, but when the sell something, it's fairly expensive, and they know their consumers are like-minded people.
Kimberley
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
8 Apr 16
those look great, way better than the Cd's we use for coasters
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 16
Some People use old LP centers, too! Not sure how they cut them, though.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Apr 16
@TheHorse free raw materials that is awesome. Go creative.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Apr 16
Yes! I think the most expensive part is the felt (I already had the stain and poly). Each felt backing (good for five coasters) costs about 33 cents at Michael's and other arts and crafts stores. If I sold these things, I'd sell them for less than they're worth, since my "overhead" is so low.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Apr 16
As you say, it's good of the company to send you the sound holes. They'd only be waste otherwise I guess. Maybe some will sell through the shop.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr 16
I'm probably being too "moralistic" and should sell some now and then. Heck, maybe I'll take a pretty photo and list a pair of Craigslist tonight while watching the Golden State Warriors play the San Antonio Spurs. You know where the Warriors' center is from, right?