Wow, this week flew by. I only got in a couple hours in the shop, but at least made them count. Spent some time touching-up the veneer repairs around the edges, and recut the bridge. Thought I would share this bridge picture, just because it was such a nice piece of maple. This is what a very good quality bass bridge looks like, as opposed to the medium grade bridges I usually use in here. Note the grain and silking.
Nice. Definitely worth saving and reusing. That's the diff between a $40 and an $80 bridge, in case anyone asks.
And for Paul, here's a look at the soundpost 'donut' in this Kay. I can't think of what a proper name would be for this, only what it's for. After setting the new soundpost, I'll snap a picture so you can see what it does in practice. For what it's worth, there isn't one of these on the top, though I have used that donut-shaped patch idea as a repair mechanism for a compromised or collapsed top.
Still have to replace the missing scroll ear. I'm trying to decide whether to do both. They'd match better, but it's more work, not really necessary. Might be one of those things it's best I let the customer decide on.
Lastly, here's what I've been up to... the waterworks utility I work for is starting up a brand-new membrane filtration plant in the next couple weeks, that will produce about 2 million gallons of water per day. For five years, from 2011-2017, I was the Lead Operator at a similar plant just across town that produces close to 5 million gallons a day, which is the reason they wanted me involved with the project I guess. After the start-up and pilot study are complete and the new plant officially goes online, my partner (a former trainee, and good friend of mine) will head up operations of the new plant, and I will return to my former assignment at the larger, older one. I've been away from there for the past 2-1/2 years, but coming back has been a nice, welcome change of scenery, if not a
huge change of pace.
The new facility is called
"Muse Spring", and it's kind of a mess in there right now, but it will all come together we're told, in a couple weeks.; The facility that will be my permanent assignment is called
"Crystal Spring". (we're quite geologically blessed to have a lot of fresh groundwater springs here) I'll have to do another post on that place sometime. It has a fascinating history. The City of Roanoke, Virginia and who knows how many settlements before literally grew up around this enormous flowing spring.
Who wants to wreck that train? As I said, this will be a challenge, so I hung my shingle back out a couple weeks ago and got to work.
So finally, I'm up here whittling away again today. I hate to say it, but at some point I have to start raking leaves. Maybe tomorrow.
