NoterMan, thanks for the kind words, and the advice! I stained the maple with a home-brew concoction known by various names...it was a common leather dye in the 18th century. Its made by putting some pieces of scrap iron in a glass jar (I used some pieces of very old barbed wire from an old fence on my property), filling it with vinegar, and allow it to "work" for a few months. Then pour the remaining liquid into another bottle through a paint strainer, and seal tightly. The resulting liquid is sort of clear, but when brushed onto vegetable tanned leather, reacts with the tannins and turns the leather a deep brownish-black. Works much the same way with curly maple...and darkens the walnut to a deep ebony shade. I think the actual chemical compound produced is iron acetate.
I have a couple of sets of violin pegs, and have already bought a reamer and peg shaver. I was going to use them in my next builds...I'm in eastern Kentucky, very near Hindman, and want to try an Uncle Ed Thomas style next. However, I can fit violin pegs to this one easily...I just have to carefully drill the peg holes through the other side of the peg box, and taper them to fit. These uke tuners are in a 5/16' hole, which is what I need to start reaming. I might change them anyway, since the friction tuners don't seem to be holding very well.
