Mike (@mikfrench76)

Sorry I’ve been MIA for a while. Summer got packed with wedding gigs and the day job has been crazy busy, but I have actually been working on the desk. Time for a catch-up. Since the last video I built the apron, cut out the drawer fronts, and shaped the legs. There’s still plenty left to do, but…

Got the desktop ready for glue up today. Milled the boards, used my @jessemtoolcompany doweling jig to drill a pile of alignment holes, then got everything glued up and into clamps. Now we wait and hope it comes out flat. #woodworking #deskbuild #jessem #furnituremaking #makerlife

It’s been a while since the snare drum build wrapped up, but I’m back with a new project. This time I’m building a desk for a friend. Today was all about milling the legs and getting everything cut to final size. Nothing flashy, but every project starts somewhere. #woodworking #deskbuild…

Replying to @strat_man_pete Here's how I’m using the Helix Stadium for theater gigs. I walked through how I set up patches and how I’m using the multiple inputs and outputs in a musical theater pit. #line6helix #musicaltheater #guitarist #theaterpit #guitargear

Big day. Buffed the shell, installed all the hardware, and got the heads on. Found two lug casings were slightly misaligned, so I had to open up the tension rod holes a bit with a router. Got it all back together, threw on the snares, tuned it up, and did a test play. I’m really happy with how it…

Did a full reset today. Sanded off the dye because I wasn’t feeling it, then sprayed the outside with water based poly and finished the inside with Osmo. Much happier with this direction. #snaredrum #drumbuild #woodworking #customdrum #makerlife

Today I dyed the snare shell using Angelus leather dyes to try a black and purple sunburst. I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it yet. Curious what you all think. #snaredrum #drumbuild #woodworking #customdrum #makerlife

Today was all about drilling for hardware. Measured everything out and drilled the holes for the lug casings, air vent, snare throw, and butt plate. One of those steps where you really hope you measured right. #snaredrum #drumbuild #woodworking #maker #customdrum

Cut the bearing edges today with a 45 degree chamfer bit on the router table. Then marked and sanded small relief spots where the snares will pass over the rim. It’s starting to look like a real drum now. #snaredrum #woodworking #drumbuild #makerlife #customdrum

Today’s plan was cutting the bearing edge, but my 45 degree router bit was completely chewed up. That killed the session pretty fast. Shop life. #snaredrum #woodworking #makerlife #toolproblems #drumbuild

Finished routing out the inside today and brought the shell down to 3/8 inch thickness. It’s finally starting to feel like an actual snare drum. #snaredrum #woodworking #customdrum #drumbuild #makerlife

Back in the shop today. Built a jig so the router rides on aluminum rails while I rotate the drum to flatten the inside. Hoping this makes the inside cleanup a lot more controlled. #snaredrum #woodworking #routerjig #customdrum #makerlife

It’s been cold in the shop, so progress has been slow. Took the snare out of clamps today and did a first pass with the orbital sander. I’m also using sandpaper on a flat piece of plywood to help keep the outside flat and round. Next video we tackle the inside. #snaredrum #woodworking #customdrum…

Quick one today. All the routing on the blanks is done, so I glued them together and clamped everything up. #snaredrum #woodworking #customdrum #instrumentbuild #makerlife

Took the blanks, traced the template, cut them on the bandsaw, then used a templating bit to route them into circles. Had a lot of tearout at the router table and I’m not totally sure where I went wrong. Hoping some other woodworkers can weigh in. I did eventually get a few decent results…

Took all the blanks out of glue up today and ran them through the drum sander to clean them up. Made a circle template with my circle cutting jig, then went back and fixed a couple joints on the blanks. Slow progress, but everything’s moving in the right direction. #snaredrum #woodworking…

Pulled yesterday’s glue up out of the clamps, cleaned everything up, and started cutting. Ended the day with the first of five circle blanks glued up and ready to go. #snaredrum #woodworking #customdrum #instrumentbuild #makerlife

Finally started cutting wood today. Ripped the purpleheart into strips, sanded down some walnut on the drum sander for pin striping, and glued everything up so it’s ready to be cut into segments tomorrow. It officially feels like a build now. #snaredrum #woodworking #customdrum #instrumentbuild…

Back to the snare drum build. Today I walked through the plan for cutting segments, turning those into rings, then stacking and routing them to make the shell. I also showed the segment calculator I’m using and a quick mockup I did in Fusion 360 so I can sanity check everything before cutting…

Finally unboxing my big Christmas gift from my wife. It was back ordered, but it’s here now. A Line 6 Helix Stadium. Figured a lot of guitar players watch these videos, so I’m switching it up a bit and diving in. #line6 #guitarist #guitargear #musicianlife #guitarbuild

Back after a few weeks off working on Christmas gifts. Kicking off a new project today with a wood tour. I’m building a snare drum using purpleheart, maple, and maybe a little walnut. #guitarbuild #woodworking #snaredrum #custominstrument #makerlife

It’s been a bit since I last posted. I’ve been buried in Christmas gifts, but here’s a change of pace. This is my band, Every Other Sunday, with our recording of The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole. #christmassong #everyothersunday #holidaymusic #musicianlife #recordingstudio

Took a road trip to @Rare Woods USA in Mexico, Maine for their Black Friday sale. This is where I got most of the wood for my guitar build. I picked up some white oak and some curly maple and purple heart for my next project on here. #guitarbuild #luthierlife #woodworking #mainewood #rarewoodsusa

A lot of people have asked what this guitar actually cost to build, so here’s the full breakdown. Spoiler, it’s less scary once you separate tools from the actual parts that went into the instrument. #guitarbuild #customguitar #luthierlife #guitarbudget #handmadeguitar

Showing off a chill, clean tone. Playing through my Line 6 Helix. Dual amps. US Deluxe Vib and Line 6 Litigator. #guitarbuild #cleanguitar #chillmusic #luthierlife #customguitar

First sound test for the new guitar. My main rig’s still at the theater gig, so I used a Logic preset, recorded a short loop in G, and jammed over it for a bit. Edge-of-breakup tone, slightly dirty. I’m really happy with how it plays and sounds. #guitarbuild #customguitar #guitartone #luthierlife…

First official gig for the new guitar. Just a quick proof-of-life post since I haven’t had time to record the first playing demo yet, but it’s out there doing what it was built for. #guitarbuild #customguitar #firstgig #luthierlife #handmadeguitar

Long video today, covering the full setup process. Re-leveled the highest frets to get rid of buzzing, fixed the dings in the neck, restrung with 9s, dialed in the bridge, set pickup height, and finalized intonation. It’s finally playing the way I hoped. #guitarbuild #customguitar #luthierlife…

No sanding or spraying today. My body decided it needed some repairs before the guitar could get any. Be back at it soon. #guitarbuild #luthierlife #musicianlife #recoverymode #diyguitar

What started as a simple plan to glue in the nut turned into a full setup session. Adjusted the truss rod, set the action, worked on the saddles, and learned a lot about what I don’t know about guitar setups. After a few tries, I think I’ve got the neck relief and action dialed in, but I’m getting…