Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to let everyone know that the doors are officially open for www.luthiersuppliers.com. It is a company that I started to help the luthier community. Right now we only have a few products, but we are gearing up for many new products that you cannot find anywhere. Over the summer 2005 we will be adding many new products that I think will be of interest to you all. Please come check us out, and if you have any questions please let me know. Also, go to the contact page and sign up to be on the mailing list for when new products are added to the site.

I will also be advertising soon on the OLF and will be donating some jigs for auctions. I hope to be of service to you all.
Thanks!
Tracy

Looking Good Tracy!

_________________
Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Groovy looking site you got there tracy!! Plus I can highly highly highly
recommend to everyone your radius dishes. They are BY FAR the
best radius dishes on the market and at a price that is lower! WOW!

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Thanks Lance! John, couldn't have done it without you man!
Tracy

Tracy,

Looks good. I signed up and sent a suggestion for a jig!

Jeff

Got it Jeff. That jig is being worked on now. It will come in the summer sometime.
Tracy

Tracy,
Great looking site. I also, as strongly as I can recommend the sanding bowls and radius dished. They are the highest quality you can find and the quality v. price begs comparison

Thanks Bob, hope you enjoy the dishes.

Hi Tracy ,

Congrats on the new startup. I hope you make awesome products that benefit gazillions of luthiers!

What's the update on the "re-engineering" the binding cutter to have a little more space between cutter and bearing? I remember that discussion, but don't recall haing seen a resolution...

Have you settled on a certain design, if so, can you tell us some specs (IE distance between cutter and bearing, size of cutter, will 1/2" shank be available, can we get em in our favorite color, etc.) Thanks!

Thanks Terry! As for the re-engineering of the binding cutter, nothing really happened with that. I spoke to the engineer who designed it, and he thought it would not be a safe product if there was too much of a distance between the cutter and the bearing. I don't know all the mechanics of it, but I trust his judgement. It was decided that you could do 1 of 2 things to correct this. 1. Cut the purfling channels first. 2. Put a small washer under the bearing to raise it up higher. I think the screw is long enough to handle this if the washer is not too thick. As for the 1/2" shank, there are no plans to make this product. If demand was there, of course we would revisit this. I'm in the process of creating a spec sheet on the bit/bearings, I'll have that out on the site soon. Thanks for the interest!
Tracy

Hey Terry Kennedy,

Welcome, not sure we've met before.

I know that I normally would do the purflings first as Tracy mentioned. "However", I am rebinding my first guitar, the plastic binding is already off. Repair persons may need to occasionally address this too.

I hate to buy an all new set at LMI's prices. I'd like to support Tracy's venture, but I'd only be getting a larger number of bearings, and that's not my problem. (though I will upgrade down the road...)

Without voluminous explanation, or close-up photos that my camera can't do well, my Stew-Mac set doesn't have much "fudge" room for the washer/spacer deal.

From strictly a builder's stand point, I'd invest in the set, making sure I don't do the binding before purflings and get in a pickle.

Hey Tracy, can we revisit this , maybe you can get specs from Terry Kennedy. I haven't heard of any of LMI's sets having problems. I do understand the concern from an engineering standpoint. Let's see what we come up with.... Again, thanks Tracy, you've got a great set there, and I'm really looking forward to seeing you grow as a luthier supplier. VERY COOL.

Take care all!

Hey Tracy,

I know the specs are in the works, Do you have a close-up picture, or can you estimate how much distance I can get with or with out the spacer idea? I realize it may take a while. I'd like to compare with what I have...

I know it seems a little bit like work...but it would help me & others who have that one problem. Just think-you'd become a superhero if you solve that problem. Maybe we could outfit you with a cape like Bob C's.

Hey remember the # 1 rule of successful marketing-meet a felt need and the world may knock on YOUR door.

Thanks again!

Terry,
Thanks for the encouraging words. I understand your concerns, and I hear you loud and clear. You are in luck, I have both the LMI bit and my bit to compare "zoomed in." I have included a picture of the LMI bit next to my bit. You can clearly see that the distance of the bearing from the top of the cutting blade is a lot higher. In fact, the LMI bit has a clearance of 3/16" from the top of the cutting blade to the bottom of the bearing. Mine has about 1/32". There is a huge difference, and I can see your point that this will be a factor if you do not cut your purfling channel first. However, if you do cut your purfling channel first, then I see no difference between the 2 bits. I will talk to my design guy about this when he gets back from out of town next week. We may be able to do something about this, but it may take some time. I will keep you posted.
Warmest Regards,
Tracy

The cost now is $144 for the bit and 10 bearings. If you want the whole set of 18, you have to pay $229. Mine you get 19 bearings giving you an extra .25 ledge to cut, when LMI's will only go to .23 ledge cut. Other than that, they are pretty much the same. Oh, and mine is only $155 including shipping. So if you need the extra distance and don't need all of my bearings, then LMI's is a better deal.
Thanks for posting the pictures, it helps to see the product from a different angle.
Warmest Regards,
Tracy

[QUOTE=terken] I'd have to check the cost
now but it was not out of sight for such a good product a couple of years ago.
TJK[/QUOTE]

Thanks Tracy, youda man. BTW, Nice shot, what camera you using?

Terry, it is a Nikon Coolpix 775. I got it because it takes incredible zoom shots.
Tracy

tracy

what is the projected release time for you slot head slotting/drilling jig.

is it being designed to do both steel sting and classicals, and do do both sides/functions with a single set up, i.e. without having to change it from one side to the other, similar to the luthier tools jig? do you have a price projection yet?

Slothead jig...I'm interested as well.

Will it be capable of using various drill guides?

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ & Crazy, (sounds like a rapper group )
I haven't even started the design process, but I know exactly what you want. It will be designed so that you attach the jig, it self centers, then you can route out the top slots for Steel String, OR Classical, but this top plate will probably have to be interchangeable. The sides of the jig will have holes for interchangeable bushings for different size tuners. But when I get around to the design phase I will ask you all your opinions. With the help of everyone here, I'm sure we can design the best product on the market. Thanks for the interest!
Tracy

sounds like you're covering the bases tracy.

a thought just struck me: does happen occassionally, but like lightning, not often in the same place.

is it feasible to achieve the different slot sizes by changing the size of guide bushing rather than changing the plates on the jig. could help keep the price down..., or alternatively, have the slot plates split and have the inner halves of the plate move to adjust the slot width. crazymanmichael38457.550775463

suggestion for another product: radius templates a la lmi.

male/convex on one edge and female/concave on other. very useful for a number of purposes, e.g. pattern routing the carriageways on a dished workboard jig, pattern routing the profile of a brace arch profile jig, and so on.

suggest 3/16 - 1/4 material, 24 " long, approx 2' wide end to end.