Oct 08, 2022
Transforming Koa Wood into Kanileʻa Ukuleles
Here's a great article about Selecting Wood for Building a Ukulele by Master Luthier Joe Sousa
So how does a flat piece of wood become an ʻukulele?
Join Master Luthier Joe Souza as he shares what he's looking for when identifying the pieces that will become your playable masterpiece. And what about all the extra pieces of wood? Find out about that in today's video about our layout process.
Joe Souza from Kanileʻa Ukulele offers a glimpse into their meticulous milling process, showcasing how raw Koa wood is crafted into beautiful ukulele components. The journey starts with carefully selecting unique wood pieces, emphasizing features like curl, color, and grain symmetry. Templates are used to shape these pieces into sets for the ukulele's front, back, and sides, while leftover material is creatively repurposed for elements like armrests, bindings, or other crafts, ensuring sustainability.
The process includes edge gluing and book matching, techniques that enhance the wood’s natural symmetry and elegance, highlighting its stunning grain patterns. This video underscores the exceptional craftsmanship and dedication that Kanileʻa brings to transforming raw Koa into finely crafted, heirloom-quality instruments.
Reprinted with Permission https://www.kanileaukulele.com/
