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Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England
Routers
I'm just getting back to repairing and making after 20 years. i used to to cut rebates for purflings and bindings using a hand tool and it was never easy. I suppose the modern way is to use a router.
What do i need?
I'm guessing a small router would do (a Dremel maybe) with a suitable cutter ie one with a bottom bearing so i could simply run round the guitar with it and hey presto....a rebate will appear.
I will recommend a small router also called laminate trimmer. I use a Virutex (Spanish), which is very good quality and well worth the money.
A Dremel will do, but you need a guide, a baseplate or whatever. The quality is not so good, and before you have bought what you need, you can buy a good laminate trimmer for the same money and the result is a lot better. Believe me, I have tried both.
Makita makes a very good laminate trimmer which has a plexiglas base so you can see through it and a built in light. It also as a slow start feature so it speeds up gradually when you turn it on to reduce torque. Unfortunately it's also rather expensive.
I hated using the Dremel. Not enough power and too much rocking movement. Even with those attachments sold at various Luthier shops. Not enough of a base on them.
I now use this cool little jig that attaches to my Laminate trim router. I'll post a couple of pics.
Photo one of the router and attachment.
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Awesome website, Tom, thanks for posting! I like "The Fingerboard Machine"... no idea what it actually does, but it looks hi-tech anyway, LOL! And at last someone has come up with a solution to doing dovetail neck joints... good to know!
Its all a bit expensive though, and I'm on a tight budget. Looks like its gonna have to be the Dremmel and a StewMac binding router guide for my next one...
Jb
_____________________________
¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!
Nothing wrong with a Dremel and attachment. Just like with everything else, it gets easier the more you do it. Even the old Gramil and chisel method is nice. More work but it's more "hands on".
Chris' things are pricey but they are good investments I say. All this stuff you can do by hand in the more traditional way. I just like the simplicity and ease of some of his tools.
Can you buy any tools by RIDGID in the UK? They make a pretty sweet laminate trimmer for the money. Comes with a bearing guide to follow curves and a fence to follow straight edges. Even includes a flush-trim bit. It's got a small plexi base and is easy to handle due small size and variable speed with soft start. Can heat up a bit, though, if run for a long time.
I have been working with the Dremel and the Stewmac attachment for 20 years, and for 20 years I have been looking for something better that is not involving a lot of big jigs etc. like the Fleishmann type, the LMI type or similar. I like the simplicity of the Dremel. Put the guitar in a vise, start your machine and go!
Tom, I don't think it is pricey if the tool really works. There was two reviews in the latest American Lutherie where one guy loved it and the other one couldn't get used to it so he stuck with his old tool. But you recommend it?
A good laminate trimmer is really worth the money. From what I see on the photos, what Toms attachment does is mainly to give you a an angle insert for routing the back. Remember the back and side is not 90 degrees. I ´ve made a simple wedge that I attach on my laminate trimmer with double stick tape. Here´s the machine. Very nice quality tool.
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Yes, I know. That's why I have used the Dremel with attachment. From what I see on the photos it is the double ballbearing guide that is the most interesting part since that is what get the machine parallell to the sides. With your setup this parallellity is somewhat a guess (?).
As you say, the wedge is easy to make. I have a laminate trimmer too but get more consistent results with the Dremel.
Tom, I don't think it is pricey if the tool really works. There was two reviews in the latest American Lutherie where one guy loved it and the other one couldn't get used to it so he stuck with his old tool. But you recommend it?
Hi Per,
Yes I really like it. It did take some time to get used to from holding the small Dremel to the much larger lam. trimmer. The bearing guide is what keeps it parallel to the sides so as long as you make sure this guide runs along the sides, everything will be fine. I really like the fact that it's easily stored away when not in use. The LMI kind takes up space which I have very little of.
I haven't got the latest copy of American Lutherie. I'll have to have a look.
From what I see on the photos it is the double ballbearing guide that is the most interesting part since that is what get the machine parallell to the sides.
I didn´t think of that. It will of course make the routing more consistant.
So you prefer a dremel to a laminate trimmer......... Hmm. well the important thing is that it works for you.
Anders, actually I use both a laminate trimmer and a Dremel. First I remove most of the wood in the binding channel with a laminate trimmer, but with some inconsistency. Then I touch up the channel with the Dremel and the Stewmac attchment. The touch up is only a couple of tenths of a millimeter so it is within what the Dremel can handle.
Tom, I have seen several drawings on similar devices as your lam trimmer attachment. It should be quite easy to build one, don't you think so?
Printable Version
Looks like its gonna have to be the Dremmel and a StewMac binding router guide for my next one... 
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