I used a variety of clamping fixtures till I got a Troji. Worth the space it takes up in my small shop.
| Official Luthiers Forum! http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
| Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=52396 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Colin North [ Sun Sep 22, 2019 12:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Since I started building I've used a simple 2' x 1 3/4' board clamped to my bench with screwed on blocks to elevate and lock (wedges) a guitar body when binding, sanding (including finish sanding) fitting neck to body, etc I have another arrangement to sand sides of a body. Wotcha using? Thinking to make something "better" although this works fairly well. |
|
| Author: | SteveSmith [ Sun Sep 22, 2019 1:31 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
I used a variety of clamping fixtures till I got a Troji. Worth the space it takes up in my small shop.
|
|
| Author: | SteveSmith [ Sun Sep 22, 2019 1:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Finish sanding is done on a downdraft table. 
|
|
| Author: | sdsollod [ Sun Sep 22, 2019 4:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Colin, I made this guitar vise attached to the end of my bench and it has worked well for me. You've probably seen these. It's two pipe clamps, two pieces of 1/4" plywood, rubber foam cushioning on the boards and pipe insulating foam pieces on the pipes. This is the only readily available photo... |
|
| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Sun Sep 22, 2019 4:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
yup! Works great. 
|
|
| Author: | sdsollod [ Sun Sep 22, 2019 5:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Terence, That is a much better photo of the guitar vise AND a beautiful instrument... |
|
| Author: | rbuddy [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
I use this for working on the body, holds guitar while cutting binding channels or neck mortises, etc. Permanent stationary "chairs" hold one end of the body. Adjustable "chairs" mounted to 1/2" Lexan on a piano hinge support the other end. The Lexan swings up and down with the hand screw to "level" the body however you want. Lots less fiddling around and works great. Attachment: DSCN3625.JPG Attachment: DSCN3626.JPG Brian |
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
rbuddy wrote: I use this for working on the body, holds guitar while cutting binding channels or neck mortises, etc. Permanent stationary "chairs" hold one end of the body. Adjustable "chairs" mounted to 1/2" Lexan on a piano hinge support the other end. The Lexan swings up and down with the hand screw to "level" the body however you want. Lots less fiddling around and works great. Attachment: DSCN3625.JPG Attachment: DSCN3626.JPG Brian Thanks Brian. That's the kind of holder I'm asking about. Mine is similar but perhaps a little bit more crude. I already have a "side of bench" clamping arrangement mostly for neck flossing, a neck or rather body morticing "box" and a carriage for routing binding ledges. But I like the horizontal holder because I can firmly clamp a body in there and really pull on tape to glue bindings on, and various other tasks. It can be rotated and/or clamped to the bench in various positions for gluing and scraping/levelling bindings, sanding (by hand or ROS) CA'ing purflings, cutting binding and purfling to length, etc. |
|
| Author: | rbuddy [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 11:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Exactly Colin. You are looking for the same thing I was. The double thick MDF base is stiff enough and heavy enough to not need clamping except for maybe scraping the back. I can spin it however I want to access the area of work. The adhesive backed foam sheet on the chairs grip the body very well while protecting it. And 3 simple adjustments will hold about any body shape. Brian |
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 12:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
rbuddy wrote: Exactly Colin. You are looking for the s...……………... to not need clamping except for maybe scraping the back. …………………. Brian You haven't seen me pulling on that fibreglass binding tape!  What's the arrangement with the brass bar screwed on thang? |
|
| Author: | rbuddy [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
The brass is a piano hinge that is screwed to the MDF and into the edge of the 1/2" thick acrylic. So the bottom 2 body holding "chairs" can hinge up or down to "level" the body. The knob in the middle raises or lowers the Lexan and the attached 2 chairs. This should help - (side view) Attachment: DSCN3627.JPG Attachment: DSCN3628.JPG
|
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
I see now. The upper "chairs" are quite high, and the lower section adjusts to level as required. What are you using to line the chairs to protect the finish - looks very thin? |
|
| Author: | rbuddy [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 1:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
The covering is just some 1/8" thick peel and stick foam rubber. You can get it in craft stores. When it wears out or comes off I just replace it. Most all corners and edges the guitar could contact are rounded off for additional protection against my fingers becoming all thumbs when it happens. Having used it for several years I can't think of anything I'd change. Cheers Brian |
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 2:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
You've certainly given me some ideas. I might think about adding some carpeting on the bottom in case fumble-fingers me drop a body on the brass bit/area, and non slip matting on the back. |
|
| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
I made this years ago and it has served me well. There is a piece of carpet on the bottom in the picture but I later replaced it with cork. I have a padded tapered block to slide under the head block area to stabilize the body when it is in the top up position. 
|
|
| Author: | James Orr [ Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
I'll be ordering LMI's vacuum work holder soon. Since I use vacuum for laminating sides and gluing bridges, it makes sense. |
|
| Author: | Dave m2 [ Tue Sep 24, 2019 2:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Colin I can't locate the picture but I find the cradle I use to do the binding rebate, as per Trevor Gore and other such systems, really useful. It has a good grip on the body and when clamped to the bench allows binding/purfling to be strapped on with some real tension. Dave m |
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Tue Sep 24, 2019 3:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Dave m2 wrote: Colin I can't locate the picture but I find the cradle I use to do the binding rebate, as per Trevor Gore and other such systems, really useful. It has a good grip on the body and when clamped to the bench allows binding/purfling to be strapped on with some real tension. Dave m Yes, I've got one of those as well, use it with a tower rig for binding, but it's small and light and glides on big telfon buttons so not so useful for clamping down, etc. Just looking for a "better mousetrap" than the one I've go. |
|
| Author: | Kelby [ Wed Oct 02, 2019 12:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
It's spendy, but it's awesome. https://www.festoolproducts.com/festool ... m-set.html |
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Wed Oct 02, 2019 2:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Kelby wrote: Got pics of yours being used "in anger"? I'd be frightened to get it dirty.. |
|
| Author: | Tai Fu [ Wed Oct 02, 2019 4:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
I use one of those Stewmac guitar repair vise. They are sold in Taiwan as a wood carving vise but it's the same thing as the older version of Stewmac's guitar repair vise. However it's iffy for holding bodies. I have to be very careful where to clamp it or I risk damaging the body if I clamp it tight enough to hold it. If the guitar has a neck, I can clamp the neck down and work on the guitar without any issue or risk of dropping it. |
|
| Author: | jfmckenna [ Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
I'm still using my knees LOL. Some good ideas here. I love the troji but just don't have the room for one. I do have one of those Work Mate tables though and I understand some folks use those as a sort of troji... Something to look into. |
|
| Author: | Colin North [ Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Tai Fu wrote: I use one of those Stewmac guitar repair vise. They are sold in Taiwan as a wood carving vise but it's the same thing as the older version of Stewmac's guitar repair vise. However it's iffy for holding bodies. I have to be very careful where to clamp it or I risk damaging the body if I clamp it tight enough to hold it. If the guitar has a neck, I can clamp the neck down and work on the guitar without any issue or risk of dropping it. Guitar repair vise. Had one for years, totally unsuitable for what I need. |
|
| Author: | doncaparker [ Wed Oct 02, 2019 10:46 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Holding a guitar body for work/assembly etc. |
Colin-- For body holding, see my workbench in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=52256&hilit=workbench I use the twin screw vise on the end of my workbench, in conjunction with some pretty strong foam against both jaws. The foam is the really hefty stuff that doesn't yield easily. I cut a curved shape (roughly 15' radius) in the inside faces. This basically works like a Troji, but I can also take the foam out and use the vise as intended. It is just the right width for fingerboards on edge, stuff like that. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |
|