I know I’ve been quiet lately, which is mostly due to being busy with other projects and things. But I did have time today to post an update on one of the psalteries that I am currently working on.

Here is a picture of a psaltery that is hot off the press – the drill press that is. (Excuse the poor lighting and color rendition, as it was lit by the built-in drill press light.) It is a custom order, which has curly maple for the top, back, and sides. It has just been drilled for the tuning and hitch pin holes – and the shallow holes for the cabochons should be visible too.

So much sawdust and wood chips end up inside the psaltery after the drilling phase that it almost sounds like a dried gourd when you shake it. (With little chunks of wood that can be heard bouncing around on the inside.) Thankfully, I still have to clean up the holes, level the finish, and yes, blow all of the dust/wood chips out of the body.