Steel Guitar Builder

Thanks for your offers guys. Since I posted this Don Burrows at BSG has offered to make me a set of aluminium rollers, rather than the brass one's which seem to be his standard set, so I'll probably just go for that as he knows the sizes for my guitar and strings. Opinion seems to be split on whethe...

Hi all, I'm interested in buying gauged rollers for my Carter U12, I know that you can buy gauged brass rollers from BSG guitars but I would prefer to use Aluminium rollers to maintain the same sound & sustain which I currently have. Would anyone here be prepared to make these for me or suggest a so...

Thanks Ron, it's the first thing I've built in my attic workshop which I just fInished setting up in December, so I'm pleased that everything worked out more or less as planned.

It's a bit cold up there at the moment, I'm hoping to get started on my lap build once the weather gets better.

Finally fitted paddles to Carter and adjusted knee lever positions to suit. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/Paddles/Full-Guitar-With-Paddles-2_zps4b3cf9cf.jpg http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/Paddles/Guitar-With-Paddles_zps58c13a55.jpg Verdict, I'm very happy with the ...

Thought it might be an idea to put some foam on the paddles to soften them. I used 2mm Eva Foam, usually used in crafts. I used a spray glue to fix the foam onto the metal, sprayed onto scrap wood then placed paddle face onto the glue, then placed each paddle onto a piece of foam taped onto a piece ...

Needed to cut 10 bolts down to about 10mm, this left enough room for a lock washer to be used when tightened. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/Paddles/Cut-Bolts-Closeup_zps62634932.jpg Used wood cut to 10mm width to make cutting easier. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/...

All paddles glued.

Next, glue pieces together. I found a good tip on another forum which suggested applying the JB Weld with a piece of wet & dry as soon as the oxide layer has been removed from the aluminium. The resulting join has proved to be very strong. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/Paddles/Glue...

Next, cut the holes in the tubing for tapping. I decided on using 8mm bolts, so drilled the holes to 7mm for tapping. Put in 4 holes in each piece, (apart from vertical), although I'll only use 2 bolts on each piece, to allow for versatility. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/Paddles/B...

Next I cut the corners on the plate, http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/Paddles/Marked-For-Cut_zps6b280070.jpg Corners marked for cut. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/lemonguy/Paddles/Wood-Aid-Cut_zps76570657.jpg Used scrap wood and double sided tape to make cutting easier. http:...