Ever get a bug and just have to build it? Okay, I am not a builder or a craftsman, only built bracket book shelves, but I thought I would build a small 10-button accordion that also played a harmonica, hence Accordica. I didn't want to try to build bellows, so I bought a cheap $25 toy piano accordion for the bellows and designed around that. The Accordica was 8.5" tall and 4.5" deep. Well, it worked fine, but once you get use to the volume (loudness) of a regular accordion, the volume of a harmonica is just lacking so I abandoned it. But since I already had built the accordion (8.5" x 4.5"), I thought I would just rebuild the treble head and make a 9-button, two reed bank accordion. I call it little black Cajita (cajita is spanish for small box). Cajita is constructed of wood from the Plywood tree. The metal buttons are 1/2" snap buttons glued into a 1/2" dowel and the base buttons are 5/8" snap buttons with a screw glued into it. The flappers are 5/8" dowels cut in half and smeared with gold rub-on paint. The armature is copper ground wire. And, since I had no springs to attach, I cut sections out of surgical tubing from a slingshot for rubber bands to put where the springs should go. The box was died black using US Marine Corp leather dye and then sprayed with several layers of spray-can lacquer. Sounds pretty darn good.

Cool!

Just shows to go ya that one can make a silk purse out of a Sow's ear. Beauty is is the eye of the beholder AND the creator. Send us a sound clip. Hope it has box corners.
JB

play it through a "green Bullet". It might sound pretty good!

Very clever.. Bravo ! ! !

Thats pretty nifty Alexander! Did you have plans to build with? Pretty nice workmanship for only ever doing shelves. Its even got mitred corners!
Greg

Nice to see ya, Greg! Stay warm up there in KC! I see y'all are gettin' a visit from ol' man Winter today.

R!CK

Hey Rick,
The salt trucks are busy! Great night for a hot pot of gumbo.
Greg

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Good evening Claude,
Still looking for a deal on a Lion Trimmer. Thanks for your suggestions.
Greg

Though I don't do business with Grizzly.. they had a copy of the Lion Trimmer

Check out frame shops as many have upgraded from Lion trimmers to more modern equipment...

Lion trimmers are best used as a nibbler after you have cut it close..

There was a company in Massachussetts that had the rights to the "Lion" name, and although their website is still up, they appear to be "out of business" now.

Lee Valley sells a similar trimmer that I've been thinking about getting. I also have a neighbor in the framing business who uses a really massive trimmer that I might be able to get some time on for a few frames in exchange for some homebrews. (Wishful thinking).
-Andy

BTW,any of these cutters: "Morso", "Lion" trimmers or other cast iron trimmers will cut incremental cuts, from 45 to 90 degrees, offering enough latitude from Butt joints to Mitterred, should their choices dictates . C.

Yeeper, El Norte, I suggested to Gregg these 2 things already, and you're absolutely right,in saying "nibbling", hence the name "Trimmer", which, basically means" to make neat and tidy", although Gregg, used a real,so nicely old fashionned saying: "Creeping up, the finish size, with the trimmer" .
Spoken like a true artisan.
As you know i'm dabbling in art, somewhat, and I've already asked some art framers to see if they have a trimmer that they would like to part with.
Same should go with all of us in order to help Gregg, one of our braves, with his accordeon building needs.
So if you know someone with that kind of tool, you could always drop him a line.
C.

My next door neighbor has a professional framing shop ... 500 feet from my house.. been doing it for 40 years

The trimmer in use is a double deal.. cuts 2 pieces at once

and though it is possible to adjust it to cut
90 degrees
It is not called a BUTT trimmer
but a mitre trimmer.. : )

PS Cornell is "fantastique"
merci ! ! !

You're welcome!,you bloody, deserve it.

Enjoy, and keep them boxes, coming!!!!! .

I got mine from Rockler with one of their 20% off coupons. It works beautifully. I had been watching Ebay for a few months for a Lion trimmer, but they are going for much more than a new import. But from what I can tell the imports like what I got are pretty well made, and several woodworking suppliers carry them. When I was checking, I think Grizzly had the best price. Makes beautiful miters. Jude Moreau has one like mine that he has been using for quite a while and he said he has never had to sharpen the blades. I have cut some decent miters on the table saw, but never as perfect as those finished with one of these trimmers.

So,

Does the Cajita have cajones ? : )

The cajita has mitred corners and a small box by convention is feminine, so no cajones--well I guess anything is possible (ie H. Clinton). The whole box was made using Chinese tools from Home Depot & plywood from Michaels. Riobi table saw and Riobi sander. Probably most of the tools, sawblades, bits, screws, finishing washers, etc. were made in China. I bet there is more Chinese in an LA box than we realize.

Very creative and resourceful

pragamatism at its best

great job

the box could be a maricon (sp ) : ) ! !