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On a recent episode of The History Channel's "American Pickers" show, co-host Mike Wolfe said the following:"If you're gonna be a picker, you gotta think outta the box. That's one of the biggest parts of my job. Looking at something, and thinking how can I repurpose this. It doesn't have to be utilized for the reason that it was made."Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz have built their increasingly star-studded careers around buying cool old stuff for the purpose of reselling it, and occasionally adding …

This is the second part of our 2-part series on the steps we follow to create one of our custom pewter fairy sound hole covers.Phase 3: Cutting the parts on the CNC router The router is set up for cutting using a special jig. A blank panel of African mahogany is loaded.The CAD design is loaded into the CNC program. Creating the CAD design could be a series of posts unto itself, but for now let's just say it magically exists.The correct bit is put into the router, and its X Y and Z positions are …

We offer a growing range of custom CNC and laser-carved sound hole covers. I thought it might be interesting to walk through how some of the fancier ones are made. As an example (because it happened to be what I am working on right now) I chose one of our 2.5" sound hole covers cut from 3/16" thick African mahogany with a hand-cast pewter fairy insert. Here is the list of steps we go through, with some photos of the actual process. Phase 1: Casting the Pewter We hand-cast our pewte …

There is a popular perception out there that starting your own business and being your own boss means a life of ease – only working when you want to, money worries a thing of the past, etc. Anyone who’s ever tried it knows the story is rather different. When you first are getting started, the one resource you think you have in unlimited supply is your own time. The more you grow and the more success you achieve however, you’ll find that you have less and less… and that the to-do list grows …

This is an exciting time to be involved in the cigar box guitar revolution and handmade music movement! As the primary parts supplier for most of the builders in the movement, we try to keep our fingers on the pulse – and let me tell you, it’s a thumpin’. Justin Johnson is burning up stages across Australia on his C. B. Gitty-sponsored Smoke and Mirrors tour, Shane Speal and his Snake Oil band hit the studio this week to begin recording their first album, to be released on C. B. Gitty Reco …