Official Luthiers Forum!

You will all probably agree this board has some of the best suppliers and jig makers in the industry. Everything I ever bought from any of the sponsors has been top notch.

One trend I have noticed is that there seems to be a lot of people looking for vacuum fixtures, especially the type to put radius dishes in. I cannot find a single supplier. Many have offered up pictures and advice to build one, however with many of us on limited build time, by the time I figure out a design, order parts, do some trial and error--I would prefer to just buy the jigs.

So, for all you jig makers out there, this might be a good opportunity to be the only supplier and first in the market. A well designed jig would also appeal to a lot of people outside the guitar building world, especially those who use veneer.

For those who might use this jig, speak up here so the OLF jig makers can see what interest there is, or isn't.

Cheers!

John   

+1 A well made fixture for this would be nice...

Tracy??

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

i would be happy to make replicas of my brace clamping frame. i would have to work up a firm price but off the top of my head i would imagine it would be in the $175-200 range if there were say, 10 or more total orders.

pictures?

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

John,
Robbie has been after me for a year about making a complete vacuum system, but we are so busy it is hard to drop orders to make a complicated prototype. I'll talk to my partner about this and see if he can come up with something. I'm sure it will not be cheap if it will include the motor. If not, it could be done reasonably cheap. I'll let you know what he says. Thanks!
Tracy

_________________
Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Check with Don Willams (NewEngland Tonewoods), hes made Brock and I each a Super Schweet vacuume clamping jig for our tops and backs. It was more than 200+ though, but well worth is and VERY well made.

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

I think most people would be interested in the clamping jig only with just a valve in the side. This way, people could use whatever pump system they like.

[QUOTE=LanceK] Check with Don Willams (NewEngland Tonewoods), [/QUOTE]

What say you Don? Are you currently taking orders?   

John

I'm planning on rolling out a complee vacuum jig offering, but it will be a couple of months yet. There will be neck holding fixtures, domed dish fixtures, bracing fixtues headstock holders for safely cutting binding channels, etc.

_________________
John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

[QUOTE=John Watkins] I'm planning on rolling out a complee vacuum jig offering, but it will be a couple of months yet. There will be neck holding fixtures, domed dish fixtures, bracing fixtues headstock holders for safely cutting binding channels, etc. [/QUOTE]

Watkins you rock!


Sorry couldn't resist!

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

haha.. you do rock John!!!!

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

I have considered offering the vacuum presses for sale on the NET website, and my business partner and I are discussing the possibilities as we speak, and have been toying with the idea for some time.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. Yes, Dave, that's yours, and yes, it's shipping today.   

_________________
John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

DROOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL I,I,I,I,I Want one NOW!!!!

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

John, it looks great! Is this pic before the vac hookup was installed? I thought it would be sticking out of the end that faces the fingerboard.

Can't wait to get it, and the neck too! Now I'll be looking out my window for the UPS man everyday.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Yeah, that was the last step that it needed. It'll stick out the end and I just realized that the smallest NPT tap I have is 1/2", so I may have to revise that shipping estimate to tomorrow. I'm off to the machine shop to mooch a tap.   

_________________
John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Thanks for the reply John. I assume that the drill bushings will go in after you have finished the vac connection part....

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I was more refering to vacuum presses for bracing myself. Although, we've also been developing some vac fixtures for holding guitar bodies etc. Not sure I want to compete with Mr. Watkins though....

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

No worries, Don. Choices are a good thing!   

Dave, the drill bushings have a shoulder on them and drop in from the other side. You just route the outside pattern with the vak side up, then flip it over, drop in the bushings, and drill your tuner holes; or vice versa. That way, you don't have to release the vacuum and risk a position shift between operations. Groovy?

_________________
John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Sounds great John!

You guys should see what John had to work off of as a pattern for this jig. I sent him a not so good paper copy of a plywood jig that I have been doing. The thing was all lopsided and the curves weren't very accurate, I always just cleaned everything up on my spindle sander.

John cleaned it all up made the curves smooth and has it looking great! Can't wait to try it out.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars