The "Reclaimed Materials" Challenge- discuss rules here

[Bryan Bear]

I'd like to enter this but only if I can make it work with my goal to donate an instrument to a fundraiser. I work in cancer research and we have ongoing fundraising efforts to support a fund we have to help our patients make ends meet (in the event that the cancer/cancer treatments have taken away their ability to pay rent or utilities). I want to make an ukulele for our upcoming raffle and I won't have time to do two instruments.

I have been taking inventory of things I can use for this. I can get the top, fretboard, bridge, bracing, blocks and linings from reclaimed sources but I haven't yet found materials for the back sides and neck. I do have some walnut that was ruined when I was resawing a guitar set, I can just squeeze an uke back from it. I also have an orphaned slice from the rest of the board that I could get (unbookmatched) sides from. Both of these pieces are/were sitting in my firewood pile. Could those count as reclaimed?

As for a neck. I have another piece of walnut that is an offcut from a guitar neck. It is too narrow to make another neck but if I add a center lamination, I can get an uke neck out of it. This piece is not in my burn pile. Rather my "I may find a use for this someday pile." I figured I would someday make center neck lams or bindings and linings out of it. This probably does not qualify.

I don't want to violate the spirit of the competition, but I don't want to skimp on quality if I am donating the instrument either. If you guys think this counts, I'll jump in. If not, I will hope I run into a decent piece of hardwood that needs a second chance at life before the end of the month.

[Steve Senseney]

Makes me want to cruise around and look at pallet lumber!!

I have too many things going at this time to enter this challenge.

[Greg Robinson]

Bryan, from what you've described of the materials you have available, I think they would be just fine and within the spirit of the theme.

[Bryan Bear]

Thanks Greg. I'm going to keep my eyes open for something that used to be something else. I'll consider this as plan B in case I don't find anything before the start date.

[Charlie Schultz]

We're going to lengthen the time to 12 weeks too. It will start on April 1st and finish on the MIMF's birthday, July 5th.

[Bryan Bear]

With the timeline extended, I expect that this has become doable for more people, so who's in? Show of hands.

<raises hand>

[Patrick DeGreve]

I believe I'm in Bryan. I'm not sure what I am going to build yet. I have some Oak flooring left over from 4 years ago I might use for a neck? I still have some mahogany I took out of the trash pile at work, cutoffs from a shelf install. I am thinking of trying to use some of the pine cutoffs that get tossed out every day at work. I am still trying to decide just what I will do, but I"m sure I will do something. I have enjoyed the challenges very much in the past. I'm glad we are extending the date, because I will be getting a late start. My brother is playing at a sky resort this weekend north of Vegas, and we are having a family reunion at the resort after the show. But I'm am in the challenge with something.

[Steven Wilson]

I'd like to enter this but only if I can make it work with my goal to donate an instrument to a fundraiser. I work in cancer research and we have ongoing fundraising efforts to support a fund we have to help our patients make ends meet (in the event that the cancer/cancer treatments have taken away their ability to pay rent or utilities). I want to make an ukulele for our upcoming raffle and I won't have time to do two instruments.

I intend to enter this and you can have what ever I come up with. Is there an instrument easier for you to raffle?

[Bryan Bear]

That's really nice Steven! Frankly I'm not sure how much of a draw an instrument will make in the format we are using. Part of the reason I want to do an Uke is to test the waters. One thing we don't do a great job of os marketing these raffles to a large pool of people (the efforts are all voulenteer and the employees tend to be very busy people). If it generates sufficient buzz, I will consider making a guitar next year. My concern is that I may end up spending more than it makes, in which case I would have been better off just giving more money.

Rather than shipping an instrument here and hoping it draws enough money. I would encourage you to find a local charity that speaks to your heart.

[Warren May]

I might throw a hat in the ring if enough are interested. I have a piece of cypress and a cast off chunk of maple that I think will work into something pretty good. I participated in the Holiday theme challenge and enjoyed it but wished a lot more people could have been involved. I really like seeing what folks come up with from Louie Atienza's fine work to Peter Wilcox's imaginative use of barb wire. Always a treat to watch the myriad of ideas around one theme so I really hope more hands will show up.

[G.S. Monroe]

Hmm... the possibilities are endless....
I've been wondering what I could do with grandpa's old cherry wood & cedar steamer trunk. Maybe make an upright Bass?
Gotta find some cheap strings though... $100 limit.

[Jacob Porter]

Think I might like to be in on this. Currently have a lot of irons in the fire, so this probably won't get done, but I think it would be more fun to take part than not. I also have a pallet and an old piano hanging around that I've been wanting to do something with other than store stuff on in my garage.

Jacob

[Peter Wilcox]

Gotta find some cheap strings though... $100 limit.

In the past, string costs have not been factored into the $100 limit.

[Hans Bezemer]

I'm looking forward to start!
I have one question: How can I pay the fee?

Hans

[Charlie Schultz]

To pay the fee, use the Paypal "Donate" button (at the bottom of our main page). Then you can create your build thread here: http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=50