Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys and gals,

Since you all share so much freely I thought I'd show a couple of tools and
jigs I built this weekend. Both were put to use the last couple of days and
worked fine as I had hoped.

The first is a guitar vise of sorts. Works great for scraping bindings,
purflings, holding the guitar while fitting the neck, etc.
It's basically just a box lined in cork with a wedge system to keep things
snug.




This second tool is my end wedge jig which was partially inspired by Bob
C's. The difference being that the router edge rides along the guides so
the whole in the center really doesn't make any difference to the end
product. Just another way to kill the cat so to speak.
(Right now it's not adjustable for changing the size of the wedge but
that's a simple update down the road).

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Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

Sweet, I like them both.

Thanks for the cool Ideas Chris, I'll have to make me one of the body holders. I like that one a lot.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Very nice Chris! I've never seen anything quite like your guitar cradle apparatus. Great idea! I have one suggestion though...you might build it with the wedging mechanism on the bench side, so the guitar sits in the front, for easier access. Is that workable, or am I missing something? It's happened before!

Chris-
Slick guitar holder/vise.
The box idea provides the safety margin against the guitar dropping out the bottom, which I worry about.
Is it screwed to the bench? In the pic it looks to be using antigravity... and I'd like some of that myself!

Cheers

John

[QUOTE=JohnAbercrombie] Chris-
Slick guitar holder/vise.
The box idea provides the safety margin against the guitar dropping out
the bottom, which I worry about.
Is it screwed to the bench? In the pic it looks to be using antigravity...
and I'd like some of that myself!

Cheers

John
[/QUOTE]

John,

The Jorgensen hold down clamp is what mounts it to the bench.
It is a pretty safe way to work on the body as all sides are protected by
1/8 inch cork which also helps grip the body somewhat.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

[QUOTE=CarltonM] Very nice Chris! I've never seen anything quite like
your guitar cradle apparatus. Great idea! I have one suggestion
though...you might build it with the wedging mechanism on the bench
side, so the guitar sits in the front, for easier access. Is that workable, or
am I missing something? It's happened before![/QUOTE]

Hey Carlton,

I suppose you could figure out a way to build it the other way around.
The wedge side is angled though which would make it more difficult to
mount to the bench. Also, what would you be gaining but a couple of
inches closer? (Maybe a benefit for those with a little frontal protrusion of
the abdominal area)

Actually, I miscalculated when I built this. I only wanted it 8 inches deep
but somehow made it 10 inches deep. That would bring it 2 inches closer.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

Chris, looks very functional! I like it!

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Hey Chris, Looks like a great jig!. My only question is does it "give" at all to go with the dome of the back and top? The guitar looks snug in the fit, but it seems as though it should contour to the domes. Great original design!

Nice ideas! I like the fact that the guitar holder has a bottom. I think that I shall modify mine to keep a guitar from falling through it. Thanks for the tip!

_________________
"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."

Really good jig! One thing you might consider is putting pins in the end of the board (the one that goes agains the guitar body) and then put slots in the side boards. That way the board will slide in and out easily but will remain in place when you are trying to put the guitar in it. As it is, it sort of looks like a "needs-three-hands-to-get-it-right" type of situation.

Nice design.It looks very sturdy.

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] Really good jig! One thing you might consider is
putting pins in the end of the board (the one that goes agains the guitar
body) and then put slots in the side boards. That way the board will slide
in and out easily but will remain in place when you are trying to put the
guitar in it. As it is, it sort of looks like a "needs-three-hands-to-get-it-
right" type of situation. [/QUOTE]

Paul,

Are you referring to the guitar vise or the wedge routing jig?

The vise is really quite easy to use. Simply place the body in the box, slide
in the wedge board and the 2 wedges. Doesn't really take much pressure
to hold the body snug, even while scraping.

The routing jig probably could use some improvements as it was a little
squirley to line up but was quite stable once in position. I would like to be
able to visualize your idea if you are indeed referring to the routing jig.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

[QUOTE=D Stewart] Hey Chris, Looks like a great jig!. My only question is
does it "give" at all to go with the dome of the back and top? The guitar
looks snug in the fit, but it seems as though it should contour to the domes.
Great original design![/QUOTE]

Hi Donovan,

The wedge board does not contour to the body's domes. However, it takes
very little pressure to keep the body in place snugly. I have no fear of the
body incurring damage while in the "vise".

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

[QUOTE=uncleshish] The wedge side is angled though which would make it more difficult to
mount to the bench. Also, what would you be gaining but a couple of inches closer? [/QUOTE]
Good points. It's definitely a handy design. Man, you're only on guitar #2, and you've already made a contribution to the entire guitar-building community! Can't wait for #3!!!

Great ideas, Chris. The vise looks safe and secure.

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com

As one who builds with domed tops and backs, I personally think not having a radius to the wedge and back boards is asking for a brace to pop .. I know it hasnt yet, but when it does ....

I use a couple pipe clamps thru two cedar 2x6 lined with 1.4 inch rubber, and each 2x6 has about a ten foot radius - no matter what way I put a body in there, it is being clamped across the sides where all the top to back strength is. As well, there is a safety net blanket underneath in case it slips. Just my 2 cents.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Tony, I bet this could be adapted, if needed. Just build the static wall with a radius, and make the wedged wall flexible.

Thats all I am saying Carleton .... I would still make the wedge solid, but radiussed, and do the same to the back wall, or at least an upper clamping section of it, like say a 2x6 !!!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Got it, Tony. You started talking about pipe clamps, etc., though, and I got confused. It'll never happen again!

Hey no probs Carlton - my vise is more the trad style made with pipe clamps set wide apart, actually wide enough to hold the guitar sideways - I dont think the above vice can do that, but again, a simple design mod would allow it, with curved cauls. Same end result, different way of getting there - happens a lot !!!

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Could you not just add some foam to the surfaces that are in contact with the guitar as in the one that Mark Kett manufactures based on the Dejonge/Larrivee model of a guitar vise.

Oh ...and thanks for posting the photos Chris..great idea!!