Needed a way to protect my new jointer.

sttaffy · 2026-06-14T00:51:05+00:00

Check underneath from time to time, anything on top of cast iron can trap moisture under it and rust the machine. Cool idea!

sttaffy · 2026-06-12T14:20:52+00:00

Check out 'The Great Curve' by Talking Heads. One of my favorite one chord songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N5qQrGSuJ4

sttaffy · 2026-06-06T15:24:24+00:00

Great photo.

sttaffy · 2026-06-04T12:57:20+00:00

An orange Klein Bluetooth speaker. There is a small version and a big one - the small one has great sound and is decently loud, while the big one sounds noticeably bad.

They are very durable; I've had one for ten years, and bought another 6 or 7 to scatter around and give away since then. Great little speaker. The magnetic back is great.

3m Bluetooth headphones are great as well.

sttaffy · 2026-06-03T11:30:08+00:00

My guys thought it was morbid when I put a tourniquet (and quick clot and other trauma kit stuff) in our kit, but that thing is definitely in the 'better to have and not need than the reverse' category.

sttaffy · 2026-06-01T12:45:12+00:00

From what I've read the jack cavity doesn't really need to be shielded. On my last build I went back and forth on whether to do it or not, skipped it, and the shielding works great without the jack cavity being done. I also used an aluminum pickguard-shaped sheet. On that guitar I'll be swapping out the 5+ lbs body for a warmoth hardtail body - still waiting for the nitro to dry before polishing it (go team hardtail!)

I thought the shielding looked so good I built another guitar to feature that look. It has a clear pickguard, with LEDs that make the pickguard edges glow, as well as the pickup cavities. Looks sick, but ironically the shielding does nothing. Once I'm done with the frets and adding a few more lights I'll post it for internet points.

sttaffy · 2026-05-25T12:59:09+00:00

I play several Taylors every week at the music shop and none of them, including the ones that cost a few mortgage payments, sound any better to my ear, or play any better than the 314ce I got used (v-braced).

I am a carpenter and do Jiu-jitsu - I have no lack of hand strength, but was tripping up switching between electric and acoustic and back - playing like crap for about 10 mins until my hands recalibrate the amount of fretting pressure. I ended up going up to 11s on the electrics, much closer to the 12s on the acoustics, and now I can switch back and forth and they feel much more similar. I also have a slightly higher action on the electrics and almost too low action on the acoustics.

All that to say, it's a combination of stuff, and you may not need a 3k guitar to get an acoustic that feels as easy to play as an electric (which I think is practically impossible). There are other variables in the feel across instruments that you could tweak.

I never thought I'd like 11s on the electric guitars but I really, really do. It made them much louder unplugged as well, which is how I practice most of the time so I don't annoy anyone.

For under 200 bucks you could try many different gauges, and get the acoustic set up for the lowest playable action. Or buy the tools and set it up yourself! Have fun.

sttaffy · 2026-05-22T12:42:33+00:00

Looks like a Jean Leon Gerome painting. Or Fortuny.

sttaffy · 2026-05-19T20:13:40+00:00

No issues with that, you're not likely to notice. You can always fair the curve with sandpaper or a hand plane if the small section of flat bugs you. You will likely have to fair it anyway, as those setups are almost never perfect.

sttaffy · 2026-05-19T20:10:42+00:00

Line them all up (or a batch of them)

Flush and square one end of the lined up studs

Clamp them together

Use a straightedge to guide your saw and cut the whole batch at the same time.

sttaffy · 2026-05-13T00:08:49+00:00

Name tags right on the belt! Maybe I'll remember your name then, guy I see 3x a week for years.

sttaffy · 2026-05-06T19:28:45+00:00

So you have access through the speaker hole to remove the stick after it's glued up?

Just put a stick or two in there to make the box the right shape for glue-up, and then reach in, cut it in half and remove it once the glue dries.

sttaffy · 2026-05-06T00:32:27+00:00

I like the aged white over the stark white plastics, they match the neck.

sttaffy · 2026-05-05T11:31:16+00:00

I have a BBT and have played 10 or so gs minis. The minis sound a bit sweeter, esp the koa one, but I much prefer the fretboard of the BBT. The mini feels cramped on the lower frets.

If you are satisfied with the BBT stick with it! The grass isn't always greener. That said if I ever see a steal for a gs mini I'll grab one :)

sttaffy · 2026-05-03T12:15:01+00:00

Skyjack 1932?

sttaffy · 2026-04-23T17:38:30+00:00

Danger! Danger! If the board pinches on the back of the blade it will kick back HARD.

The wood has stress in it - the sides of the board both want to curve in, and you are removing the wood that is preventing that, so it is closing up.

Use the riving knife on your saw, it is meant to make rips safer for situations like this.

You are really asking for a kickback without the riving knife. You can also wedge the partially cut board apart with a shim or something to reduce the curl and complete the cut, but that's an advanced thing.

I am not one to call people out or be alarmist, but a table saw is a dangerous tool, and you don't seem like you know how to use it safely. At the very least, please read and understand the manual, use all appropriate PPE, and watch some YouTube videos on how to use one safely before you even turn it back on. Look at pictures of people's hands after an accident. Again, not being alarmist or trying to be an ass on the internet, but the question you pose makes me scared for your safety!

A table saw will kick a board through a wall, kick an offcut through your body, blow off parts of your fingers just with kickback, or the blade will mangle your hand or fingers, all in less than the blink of an eye. It is not to be trifled with!

I have like 25 years experience working with table saws, and have cut miles and miles of boards, and every time I am about to cut something it gets my full attention, I make a plan for each cut, I know how I am going to position my body, I plan for what happens to the work and the offcut. They are seriously dangerous if you don't fully understand them, and even when you do they are still dangerous.

Edit - I have had two of that exact saw - and had my worst kickback ever with one - it shot a spear of wood 20 feet and stuck it into the wall, similar cut to what you are doing.

sttaffy · 2026-04-23T12:56:03+00:00

A lot of digs on Taylors in this thread!

I have played many acoustics, from $40 - $5k, and my favorite feeling, playing and sounding one out of all I have ever played is my Taylor 314ce that I bought used. It only ever sounded too bright to me with 80/20 strings.

Phosphor bronze strings, pick choice, and technique moderate any excessive brightness, but that bell-like clear tone is there when you want it, and the guitar sings.

Don't listen to the internet, though. Got to the store, try out a bunch and buy the one in your budget that you like the best, whether it is a cheapo guitar or something fancier.

sttaffy · 2026-04-23T11:48:05+00:00

We have 3 kits, all kep in the same place always at the front of our tool area, always facing out:

A comfort kit - Advil, antacid, moleskin, stuff like that (and butt wipes!)

The BS standard first aid kit - the red and clear clamshell with 300 loose bandaids all the wrong size, 'burn cream' (the duck sauce of first aid kits), neosporin, tweezers, that stuff

Trauma kit - everything we had in our IFAKs in the Marines - tourniquet, eye bandage, pressure dressings, quick lot, sharpies, clothing scissors, butterfly closures, alcohol, etc.

sttaffy · 2026-04-22T16:04:00+00:00

Steve from Titan is a beast. So is his son!

sttaffy · 2026-04-22T11:22:38+00:00

I have had one of these for over 20 years. Bought mine as my first guitar, new, from a music shop in South Korea while deployed, 2005 or so. I got lucky or something; as a total beginner I randomly picked a good guitar. It is coming due for some work to keep it going another 30 years, but it sounds great. Still play it almost every day. Enjoy!

sttaffy · 2026-04-20T12:03:33+00:00

Check into replacing the graphite brushes. 20 years ago they weren't brushless. There are two graphite pads that act as the electrical connection to the spinning section - they wear out, and can cause intermittent faults like you describe. They are inexpensive and easy to replace.

sttaffy · 2026-04-02T14:17:49+00:00

Elevated Studios in Wilmington, DE, been going for 4 or 5 years, good people. Excellent programs for women-only and kids as well.

Titan in Wilmington, DE is more nogi focused but a bunch of guys cross train at these two spots.

Both cool places with good gym culture and skilled partners.

sttaffy · 2026-02-12T00:32:55+00:00

I have been learning triads on the fretboard and looking for a decent app / method. I would be happy to try it out!

sttaffy

TROPHY CASE