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| Short List, Kit Build Tools? http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=10955 |
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| Author: | joe white(old) [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:04 am ] |
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I know this has the potential to absolutely open a flood gate but how about a short list of essential tools needed to complete a kit guitar. I'm embarassed to say that I have a shop full of just about any tool needed to completely repair any car involved in a collision but when it comes to luthery, about all I have is general carpenter stuff. 
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| Author: | LarryH [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:20 am ] |
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Joe, for my first kit I had very little specialized guitar building tools. Your choice of tools will depend on which route you take for your first. StewMac has a great instruction book on-line and if you use their techniques you'll need different tools than if you choose another technique. For instance they use spool clamps for gluing on the top and back. On my first I made my own. On my third I made a go-bar deck. So choose your route first then gather tools accordingly. You also don't need to get everything at once. Just get stuff as you need it. Like the first thing you will need is to build some kind of spreaders for your form. Do you have a form? you don't need one but they're nice. Next you'll have to glue on your end and neck blocks - go but some clamps. Then you need to sand your sides - go buy some sand paper. Then the linings go on - go buy some clothes pins. You get the idea. |
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| Author: | JJ Donohue [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:21 am ] |
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Joe...Here's a shot off the top of my head. I'm sure others will chime in. 1) SHARP chisels 2) Block plane...SHARP iron 3) Lots of clamps 4) Engineer square 5) Straight edge 6) Dial calipers and accurate rules 7) File & Rasp 8) Laminate trimmer or Dremel 9) Mold 10) Sanding dishes 11) Gobar deck There's more but I have to run! |
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| Author: | Lillian F-W [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:31 am ] |
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You know that if you were dedicated enough you could do this with a pocket knife, a rasp and some rope. I'm not that dedicated. What I would consider the very basics isn't that much really. A couple of chisels and a means to sharpen them. Hand plane or jointer to true up the plates before they are glued. A bucket full of small clamps for gluing the lining to the rims. Clamps for the bridge and for the head and tail blocks. A Gramil or Sloane style cutter, to score a line before you cut the binding ledges. If you are going to cut them out with a router, get a Gramil. If you are going to cut them any other way get a Gramil. A fine bladed saw. Rope, rubber bands/tubing or a Go Bar deck. There are a bunch of jigs that go with all this to make life easier of course. A shooting board if you are hand planing your joints. A contraption to hold the plates when you glue them, which can be no more than a board, a handful of carpet tacks, a spacer and some weights, ala Sloane. If you don't cut out your binding ledges with a chisel, then something to go with your router to keep it from eating your would be guitar. |
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| Author: | JJ Donohue [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:46 am ] |
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12) Fretting tools...hammer, crowning tool, file 13) Cabinet scrapers 14) Various glues 15) Etc. as you find a need you'll know what to buy I guess it's not so short. In general, buy the best quality tools available...don't buy crap! The most important thing to have won't cost you a dime...PATIENCE! |
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| Author: | JBreault [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:58 am ] |
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Joe, the best pplace to check is Stew Mac. You can download the PDF instructions for their kit guitar and it has a list of tools needed. From there, the rest of the tools become "convenience" items...or as we tell our wives "necessities" 
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| Author: | klhoush [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:06 am ] |
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[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Many of us bought things twice or more..... because we didn't buy the right things or quality level in the first place. [/QUOTE] That's how we keep the economy going!!! I built my first with carpentry tools: tablesaw and sawsall to rip sides and back random orbit sander to sand to thickness and finish sand small hand saw to cut kerfed liners and other stuff full size router to cut rosette and binding channels scraper to flatten and true sides belt sander to shape the neck cordless drill for tuners and peg holes chisels and block plane for bracing Propane torch and 1 1/2" copper pipe for bending Piece of wood with a slot for fret shaping Throw in some clothes pins and a flat work board to joint the top and back. There are ways to get by without forms or a gobar deck and radius dish. Read every website and book you can find. Have tons of fun! Kurt |
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| Author: | Dave Rector [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:32 am ] |
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Well, I am afraid that once again I have to recommend Frank Finocchio's video series as well. Frank's video's will take a lot of the mystery out of the building process and you can also see what kind of tools you'll likely need to build a guitar. No, I don't work for Frank, I just think the videos are well worth their price. The above lists will work well to get you started as far as the tools go though. |
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| Author: | joe white(old) [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:40 am ] |
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Thanks Guys, So far, I have not decided on a kit. At first, I didn't want a dread kit but since I don't own a dread, that might be the best way to go. I would like a kit that will give me an option with tonewoods, I'm thinking mahogany with mahogany top and rosewood or koa bindings. I would also like to customize or personalize the peg head. Bolt on for sure and maybe a bridge blank with the option to personalize there too. JJ's not too far away so there might be times when I load up the progress and beg for help. |
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| Author: | Lillian F-W [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 12:10 pm ] |
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[QUOTE=joe white] [SNIP]
Joe, sorry, but you aren't going to get my in the way of sympathy here. Lots of encouragement yes, sympathy no. I'm beginning to think that we need to get a support group started for our significant others who must deal with our obsession. Being the partner of a wood obsessed tool junkie can't be easy. |
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| Author: | JJ Donohue [ Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:28 pm ] |
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Joe...You know I will help in any way I can...advice, tools, jigs, benders, molds, sanding dishes, etc. Feel free to design your guitar with any wood or appointments you fancy. Just don't try a 12 string fresh out of the box. You'll make mistakes and that's part of the learning process. On my first, every time I'd call John Hall for advice on correcting my most recent blunder he'd always say the same thing..."If it's not in splinters, we can fix it." Are you having fun yet! 
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| Author: | crowduck [ Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:27 am ] |
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Joe, I will 2nd the recommendation for Finocchio's videos as he demonstrates building an outside form as well as most other building procedures. The videos can be rented from smartflix.com. However, he doesn't show anything about neck making. The John Mayes videos are also very good and comprehensive. CrowDuck |
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I'm a recovering tool junkie (automotive) so this is gonna' be baaaaaaaaad