Alternate Marbling Technique

Chapter twenty six describes a marbling technique that I've been using for years. It produces a stunning marbled panel, but is a rather elaborate procedure. If you'd like marbled panels on your instrument but are somewhat intimidated by the process, I've come up with an alternate technique that's simple, quick, and equally effective.

This method uses only two colors - the base color of your case, and a secondary color a few shades lighter or darker than the base color. The effect is much more subtle and mono-chromatic than the technique described in the e-book and is just about fool-proof. Of course, try it out on a sample board before using it on your actual instrument. Here's how to do it.


1. Paint your case with your base color. My current project uses Almond as the base color (just like the instrument in the e-book). Allow several days for the base color to cure.

2. Determine your secondary color. In my case, I took about a pint of my base color (Rust-o-leum Almond) and mixed in some Raw Umber (oil-based) from a tube. You can find an inexpensive tube of color in any art supply or crafts store. Mix the two thoroughly and keep adding the secondary color until you get the shade you want.

3. Mask off the areas of the case that will not be marbled using blue painters tape.

4. Working on a single panel at a time. Brush on a coat of glazing liquid - I used Alkyd Glazing Liquid by Ronan, but any oil-based glazing liquid will do. Sherwin Williams "Illusions" is another good one.

5. Brush a coat of your secondary color onto the wet glazing liquid. Cover the entire panel with paint.

6. Dab the paint with a crumpled up piece of Saran Wrap - available at any supermarket. Dab the entire panel with the Saran Wrap which will remove some of the excess paint/glazing liquid.

7. Cut a piece of Saran Wrap bigger than the size of your panel. Cover the entire panel with the Saran Wrap sheet (not crumpled). Lightly press the sheet onto the wet paint with your fingers.

8. Remove the Saran Wrap sheet and you're done. The marbling effect is produced entirely by the Saran Wrap.

9. Remove the masking tape and enjoy looking at your marbled panel.

As soon as I get some time, I'll make a quick video of the process and post it.
Happy building!
Ernie

New Features

To make the Harpsichord Project Blog more useful and informative to you, two new features have been added.

The Reader Gallery is the place for you to show the progress you're making with your harpsichord build. To view the slideshow, simply click the "Reader Gallery" tab at the top of the screen. If you'd like to include your photos in the slide show, just e-mail them to me and I'll add them to the show. The show will automatically update as new photos are added. Currently, the slide show features the work of Neal Carey who has completed the first nine chapters of the e-book. Congratulation to Neal on his progress and flawless execution. Well done!

The Video Page will contain videos dealing with the building process.  These videos will feature techniques that differ from those described in the Harpsichord Project E-Book. As I mentioned in my previous post, there are many different ways to accomplish tasks, and I will show you as many alternative methods as I can. The current video, by master builder Kevin Fryer of San Francisco, shows a procedure to bend the bentside without laminating and without the need for a bentside jig. Kevin uses a custom made bending iron to bend a solid poplar bentside blank. Fascinating! Click the "Video" tab at the top of the screen to watch this well made video.

Hopefully, these features will be inspirational as well as informative. Their success depends on your participation and continued interest. We're looking forward to your input and ideas.

Happy building!

Welcome to the Harpsichord Project Blog

It's been a few months since the Harpsichord Project E-Book went on sale. By now, I'm sure many of you are well into your build. I hope things are going smoothly and you are enjoying the construction process. You have no doubt realized that the Harpsichord Project E-Book, in spite of its 900 pages, is, in some ways, an incomplete documentation of the building process. To be sure, if you follow the methods described in its pages, the result will be a fine instrument - one you will be proud to own and play. However, harpsichord building is not a "my way or the highway" pursuit. As it was written for an anonymous person - one whose skills, experience, and motivation I had no way of knowing, the methods described in the book were developed to insure success for the greatest number of potential builders. This doesn't mean that "my way" is the only way, or even the best way, to get something done. For example, when building the case, many builders leave the case bottom off until the instrument is strung and playing - and they have valid reasons for doing so. I have you start with the bottom and add the case sides on top of it because it's easier for the first time builder to do it that way. Which method is correct? They both are. Which method you use depends on your skills, experience, and preferred methods of working.

So now we come to the purpose of this blog. If you can learn through your experiences, can you not also learn from the experiences of others? Actually, that's exactly what you're doing by using the Harpsichord Project E-Book as a guide - you're learning from my experience. Why not ask your question(s) here on our Forum Page and let everyone contribute and benefit from the answers given. After all, if you have a question, the chances are pretty good that someone else has the same question and would benefit from the responses. So join our extended family and let the wood chips fly!