What are you at? This is it: Cigar box guitars

Robert Nugent of Conception Bay South says hefirst began building cigar box guitars as partof his step-daughter's homework assignment.

"She had a build your own instrument assignment, and I helped her build a one-string electric guitar," said Nugent.

He first discovered how to make the unique instruments when he came across directions online.

From then on, hewas hooked.

Nugent getsthe wooden cigar boxes come from local cigar shops. He also orders them from thesouthern United States.

He said he mostly usesmaple for the necks and fret-boards of the instruments, and uses bitsof highend hardwoodfor smaller design features.

Nugent estimates thatit takes 15 to20 hours to make a cigar box guitar from start to finish.

An avid musician, Nugent's said thata lot of early American blues was likely written on similar types of instruments.

Meanwhile, Nugent said his step-daughter got top marks on her assignment, and she and her friends have gained an appreciation for the guitars.

"They get a kick out of these cigar boxes. They think they're lovely and strange and wonderful," he said.

What are YOU at? Email us wam@cbc.ca and let us know. We'd love to do a feature on your interesting hobby.