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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to estebanana)
quote:
This is what this list should be about rather than worrying about the color of Condes .
I agree. I hadn´t seen this thread before. Its from my long break this summer. Actually I think you should have posted your fret slotting thing here. In order to keep it all together. I have a ton of homemade, cheapo tools. I will take photos when I use them and post them here. If I remember to do it, and some others do so as well, then maybe Admin could make this a "sticky" thread son that it stays on top. It could be a good help for newbies.
RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to Stephen Eden)
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ORIGINAL: SEden Did you make any additions?
I am still interested to see what other jigs are out there. So post some more!
Stephen, Since we do all the work on the head of the guitar pretty much as the last step in the building I had to modify your jig to work with our procedure. It's basically the same but held in place with two quick clamps and no vacuum. I'll post a picture the next time we use it which will be in a couple of days. I'll include a photo of our drill guide for tuner rollers at the same time.
Here's a picture of one corner of our shop with Susan's Geraniums in the window. The shop is in full swing right now. It's the only saving grace from the rotten winter weather.
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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to jshelton5040)
Hey John,
I look forward to seeing it. What is the reason for shaping the head once all of the other work is done?
Nice workshop space too. I have finally upgraded my workshop into a new premises which is over twice the size of my last one! I will posy pictures in another thread one day. :D
RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to Stephen Eden)
quote:
ORIGINAL: SEden
I look forward to seeing it. What is the reason for shaping the head once all of the other work is done?
Nice workshop space too. I have finally upgraded my workshop into a new premises which is over twice the size of my last one! I will posy pictures in another thread one day. :D
I use the head as a back stop when doing other operations like scaping bindings it might get damaged it if it were already carved. It's good to do things in different ways. It expands the imagination. We do a lot of procedures that are not what most people would call normal .
This is my dream workshop. An architect friend designed it for me for most efficient use of materials. We had the rough work done by contracters and Susan and I did all the finish work...interior walls, wiring, drywall, exterior siding, plaster and paint, etc. Then we built new benches which are all oak and maple framed with laminate tops. It's 1260 square feet divided into an assembly area that is climate controlled, a stationary tool room, finishing room with ventilation and a small pantry for an extra freezer, refrigerator, dry goods storage and stereo equipment. I like music when I'm working. There is also a 500 square foot walk around attic space for storage. And the best part is no neighbors to complain about noise .
Here are a couple of pictures before we started the finish work. Susan is standing in the corner.
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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to Stephen Eden)
quote:
ORIGINAL: SEden
Hey John,
I look forward to seeing it. What is the reason for shaping the head once all of the other work is done?
Stephen,
Here is my version of your routing appliance and a fuzzy picture of the tuner drill guide. I really appreciate your kindness in posting your pictures. I'd love to see some pictures of your new shop!
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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to estebanana)
I think this thread is a very good idea. I can remember when i started to build I found that the list of tools was overwhelming. I started up with very few tools and still dont have many. The traditional Spanish working method doesnt require a big tool park. I made some tools back then, because i couldnt build without and because my money wasnt for buying. So I will slowly upload pictures of those who been in use and have proven to work. So first a bending iron. All metal and wood is container scratch. Stainless steel tube and some alu pieces. Bulb is 100W. I made it for my first build and its still in use. I have a homemade sidebender (that´ll com up later) but i still use the pipe for some things. here you see it in use for bending strips for the rosettes and i also use it for final bending cypress sides. You can have the most advanced sidebending machine that can be bought for money but it wont change the fact that cypress has a lot of springback. So much that I final bend on the pipe while assembling. You can build without doing so, by simply using a lot of clamps to force the sides into the building jig, but IMHO, this only creates a lot of stress in the guitar and i strongly believe that the more stress free you can build the better. And that said, you dont need anything else in order to bend sides. Bending machines are only for comfort and time saving.
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So first a bending iron. All metal and wood is container scratch. Stainless steel tube and some alu pieces. Bulb is 100W. I made it for my first build and its still in use. I have a homemade sidebender (that´ll com up later) but i still use the pipe for some things. here you see it in use for bending strips for the rosettes and i also use it for final bending cypress sides.
Anders, Here's my first and last effort a making a bending iron. It's a piece of aluminum irrigation pipe that was shaped with a framing hammer and piece of 2x4 fir with a rounded edge. It was made around 1965 and I still use it for every guitar. There's an old saying from the southern part of the US..."if it ain't broke don't fix it".
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What a great thread, thanks a million guys! Currently my mother in law has left our house, so now we have a spare room for me where I can install a little workshop, I'll definately be using many of your homemade jigs. Building seems to be more fun when using homemade tools So please keep them posts coming! Anders, do you use some kind of control(regulador) for the temperature with the lightbulb?
Ok, another hot pipe, this one for violins. I cannot take it apart, but here´s the description. 25mm steelpipe. A 5€ chineese soldering iron 40W (maybe 60w I cant remember) which i took apart with a hammer. Some copper wire left over from a boat building project tied around the soldering irons heating element untill its thick enough to touch the inside of the pipe.. Stuff it all into the pipe and jam in some aluminium paper with a blunt screwdriver to fill it up and make sure the cord doesnt touch the iron pipe. It takes some 10 minuts to make and it works flawless. But remember to remove rust with a bit of steelwool before using it.
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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to estebanana)
Another use of the violin bending iron and this is from today. A heating element for a small drying cabinet, where my latest creation is waiting for its turn. It keeps a steady 22 - 24 celcius and 50 - 55% Rh
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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to estebanana)
So, here´s another little homemade tool that has been with me since guitar number 1 and hopefully it´ll stay forever. Its made out of clear vinyl or plastic, 4 bolts with nuts and some araldit epoxy glue. Its run by a chinese made dremmel copy which has also been with me since guitar number 1
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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to estebanana)
One of my simplest tools - a handled scraper which saves your fingers from blisters. The toothed side is great for rough sawn back and sides but too brutal for soundboards. The flat side seems to really keep it's edge and is lovely for both back, sides and front. ( or front and backsides - lol )If at some stage you really want to replace or make your own profile scrapers, they are removable via a screw in the handle. I think there are modern equivelants, but I like a market stall rummage and something with a little history. This one cost £3.
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RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to estebanana)
Yes, handled scrapers are good for your fingers, I just find it hard to get the same cut as with a standard scraper. Nice tool and it looks like its had a fair amount of use
RE: Luthiers Share Tool Ideas (in reply to estebanana)
The routing jigs shown look good. Makers here have in the past have used the morticing attachment for the Inca table saw. A morticing bit runs slowly so when routers became more common someone thought to "replace" the chuck with a router. It works very well and you can do quite a few headstocks in a short time. You have to change very few parameters with different head shapes too given the fact that the registers are the straight side of the headstock and one of the tuner holes. Changing the length of the channel is very fast with the morticing table. I think the pictures make it quite clear how it works. I have just started using the Inca setup my self and what you see in the photos is what I made 170 guitars with and now I am getting rid of it. Is anyone (in Spain) interested? Please see ad in the classifieds section. The other thing with the drill chuck on the grinder is for drilling holes in the bridges.
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