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Just dropped 4k at Stewmacs. There's no going back now.
They are expensive tools no doubt but finding replacements in the UK and ones that are in stock, is impossible.
I'm looking to start a manufacturing company as many of you know but I thought it wise to learn the shop floor as part of the process. I can get others to do all of this and likely people with great skill but I need to know what it takes, to get a really high quality result and so I need to understand what goes on, in this area. The best way for me to do that, is to get my hands dirty.
Understanding the needs of this side of the business and being able to talk the language, seems important to achieving the level of quality I want.
Here is a list of the tools I bought.
I spend big on some items, items that most techs would probably scoff at but for me, what's important is to get whatever makes the work easier and more accurate, with as little skill and time input as possible on my part, as I have a lot to learn and I need to focus on many other parts of the business too.
Spending this money helps me do that. I do appreciate for those in the know, a lot of this stuff seems excessive and some of it probably is.
Fret Cutter
Precision Notched Edge
Two Cherries Brace Chisel
Precision Straight Edge 18"
Precision Fret Puller + 2 guards
Fret Heater
String Lifter
Neck Relief Gauge & Slot Gauge Straight Edge
Heat Stick + Soldering Iron Neck Removal Kit
Rubber Clamping Bands (narrow)
Mitchel Abrasive Chord
Peghead Overlay Veneer Ebony x 2
Pre Cut Fret Wire Medium 12 Radius
Pre Cut High Medium 12 Radius
Nut and Saddle Sander
Crack Repair Tool Kit
Micro Mesh Touch Up Pads
Hex Nut Truss Rod
Guitar Bench Pad x 2
Understring Radius Gauges
Re-fret Saw + Slot Cleaner Tool Set
Tuner Bushing Press + Expansion
5 Ply Pick Guard Material
Fine Line Applicators
The Glue Looper Kit
Fret Crimper
Fret Slot Depth Gauge
Binding Laminator
Stew Mac Z-File Original
Macrostie Binding Trimmer
String Spacing Rule
StewMac Ultimate Scraper Original + Concave
Stew Mac Buffer 230 Volt plus compounds, grate and buffing wheels
Bridge & Fingerboard Heater
Tune-o-Medic Bridge & Tailpiece Tools
8" Radius Blocks Set of 5 Sizes
4" Rad Blocks Set Of 5
Gauged Diamond Cut Nut Files (heavy Strings)
Binding Router Set (standard)
MacRostie Binding Trimmer Bit
Kerfed Lining Clamps x 40 (metal ones designed by Taylor).
Radius Gauge Complete Set
Fret Arbor Full Kit
Fretbar Under String Leveler 4"
White Plastic Binding (all sizes)
Black Plastic Binding (all sizes)
2x Concave Fret End Files.Last edited by Archie; 09-27-2021 at 07:03 PM.
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09-27-2021 06:41 PM
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To be honest, the work can be done with fewer and simpler tools, but not on a production basis. I level my frets with a small length of I beam milled flat and carrying self-adhesive abrasive paper. I crown by hand with the microfiles I used to use for finishing machined parts (I’m a life long SCCA racer who built & maintained my own cars). I use machinists’ feeler gauges etc, and I’ve adapted many surgical and metal working tools to lutherie. But I do a neck or two every few years and have built 3 guitars in 60 years.
You really do need production level tools to learn at the level you want to reach. There’s no other way to develop reasonable expectations for production and quality goals. And you haven’t gone overboard at all if you really plan to make a business of it. What you bought will help you know what to expect and demand from your employees, but good people will be far ahead of you if what you know is limited to a novice’s experience with what’s on that list.
I wish you the best of luck! Making stuff you love is fun. Getting others to love it enough to buy it at a price greater than your cost of goods sold is the first hurdle. And delighting your customers so they come back to you first is the second. Spend what you must - just be realistic about what you make and how you present it.
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Bravo on your commitment and optimism.
Having worked a few years cabinet woodworking, I have found tools can be in three classes:
1/ Multi purpose / repurposed
2/ Specific purpose (but the cheapo bargain bin version)
3/ Specific purpose and made with little if any compromise to be excellent at that purpose. Often not found at the big box hardware.
4/ Tools or Jigs I made myself to fulfill a specific purpose that was not readily available.
I have had examples of all three through naivety and the learning journey.
None of category 2 are left. Some of category 1 were good at somethings, but average at the rest.
Category 3 made work efficient, precise, predictable leading to less rework or mistakes.
Category 4 is noble, effective, and when I pulled it off well, was as good as anything in Cat3. Some hits but some with 'developmental opportunity'.
There was a 5th 'category' I experienced- but more an amp'ed up steroid/boutique version of Category 3. Nothing wrong there, but I saw a law of diminishing returns. Its important for some people. I have some- if only to support local toolmakers. Like many, I love to support the underdog that is obviously in need of the help.
There are plenty more that others could identify as well.
In short- a lot like guitar gear reading back on all that!
I did learn over time that Buying wisely once is cheaper in the long run, but only if you demonstrate commitment to use the gear.
Chisels will wear out. Some in 2 years of heavy use. Some in 20 years of equivalent use. Same goes for most things in life I guess.
Cheers and best wishes going on!
EMike
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Congratulations on all of your wonderful new toys, er tools!
Best of luck to you in this endeavor.
Buy some stuff to protect your eyes & lungs & hands.
Learned this on the shop floor.
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You mentioned elsewhere that you plan to use laminated plates.
What you are planning to build?
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Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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Originally Posted by thelostboss
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I'd like to make a series of Archtops that are distinctly English. Using English woods and including English folk law but not luthier guitars. Between luthier and mid level mass production.
I will be working with professional builders in the acoustic world, professional CAD specialists etc.. I'm not going into it totally blind and dumbfounded.
I want to bring my experience in playing and my experience in dealing, which as you know simply means, having played so many guitars, we get a feeling for what works and what doesn't.
I will be using pre existing guitars to 'learn' from and as you've likely noted, you can tell what I've been putting together to do so.
I also have a USP that I'm keeping under wraps for now but you'll hopefully be filled in shortly.
I'll keep you posted about what's going on and any advice will be much appreciated. You're an especially knowledgable member and you've always been generous with it.
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Originally Posted by EastwoodMike
I always go for number 3. Number 3 allows you to excel were your knowledge and skill level doesn't.
I own several Mafell, Lamello and Festool tools, for joinery and went from a total novice, to putting together desks and drawers, like a pro in essentially a day. A flat pack pro of course ) Not something on your level but you get the point.
There is no point in me learning how to tap tune and carve a top now. I'm 40 years old, it's likely too late and far too time consuming. So I bought a CNC machine in stead and I'll employ someone with that skill to do the final carve. Sure, I'll pick it up over time but if I put too many hurdles in my way, I'll never get off the ground.
I down't want to be one man in a shed, well perhaps when I'm 64. That's why I don't consider myself a luthier. I'm going to put together the right people guided by my knowledge as a player and collector and someone with a fine eye. Let them do what they do best and I'll do what I do best (fingers Crossed).
Besides the best guitars have already been made and they're out there for you to find and learn the secrets of. Most f the hard work has already been done and it's been that way since almost the 50's when Johnny Smith went peddling a D'angelico to Guild and Gibson.
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Best of luck, AH. we're pullin' fer ye!
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Originally Posted by citizenk74
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Several days ago, my shipment from StewMac arrived in the UK. DHL have spent the last week playing silly buggers with it, so I eventually gave up and collected the 4 parcels from their depot at Heathrow, this evening.
I haven't opened them yet but will take them to the workshop tomorrow morning and do so.
I'm also off tomorrow to check the planner/thicknesser I'm purchasing. It's a 6 hour round trip to Devon and back.
I've driven to the border of Scotland, Wales, Devon, and London (several times) in the last month.
It's been fun.
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Good luck!
Woodworking is my other big hobby, and I agree with you about tools. Though things can often be done different ways, there is usually a BEST way to do something and a BEST tool for the job.
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I opened the bits I ordered from StewMac this evening.
Was like an early Christmas!
Here's the spread.
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Don't think much of those wooden radius blocks.
I'll buy some rolled aluminium billet and have some proper ones machined on my friends monster XYZ mill.
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Just coming back to update this thread. I'm going to change the thread over to "Kitting Out My Workshop" for information about which tools and machines I've purchased.
Have a look over there if you want to follow that.
I'll come back and link to other threads on different topics, although all will be to do with building the business.
Cheers!
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I've spent the first full week in the workshop this week and have been doing a lot of clearing up, re organising, clearing up again, moving things around, clearing up again, chucking things out, reorganising and then .... you guessed it, clearing up.
The area is coming on well. I've nearly got the room ready to put the belt sander and planer in. I just have to bring the ducting in for extraction, from the other saw room. I'll likely bring it through the adjoining window.
Here are some pics of the progress and space. There is still a long way to go but progress is good. I built a torsion box on a motorised bike lift to serve as a temporary desk, build space for the design and R&D work I'll be doing.
I've taken quite a bit of time lapse video which I'l put up on YouTube when I get better internet speeds.
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Very spiffy! Looking forward to some sawdust making!
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Originally Posted by thelostboss
I would go for a desk mounted unit for the enlarged display but a neck mounted one by them also has fantastic reviews and is much cheeper.
Peterson Strobe Tuners
StroboPLUS HDC | Peterson Strobe Tuners
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Originally Posted by ccroft
A panel saw isn't much use for guitar making. It was originally bought for R&D on another project.
The machine is actually coming out and it's either going in another room, or is being sold off. I wouldf prefer an American style saw bench and numerous custom sleds, over the European panel saw, simply for ease of use, speed and access.
I have a Mafell track saw that can cut sheet goods down if needed and then a smaller table saw can be used to dimension them accordingly.
I will of course miss it the moment it's gone so hoping to hang open to it.
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Not sure how I missed this thread but best of luck to you! Can't wait to see what comes out of all those tools and hard work
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Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
We use the Altendorf for a whole lot more than panel processing though. Straight-lining lumber before ripping saves a ton of time on the jointer. And there is no more accurate mitre box. Also: a 22" blade comes in handy sometimes. It gets used a lot more than the Unisaw, even for small pieces. It can look a little odd to see a giant expensive saw being used to make drawer parts, but it's way cleaner, accurate, repeatable and faster than anything else once you get the hang of it.
But yeah... overkill for guitar making.
Since you live in the birthplace of Wadkin, you should keep an eye our for one of those little old sliding saws. A different beast altogether, and very cool old-school machinery aimed more at lumber processing. Might be a bit like restoring an old Emperor though.
Commercial wood-working of any kind is a tricky proposal. All the best to you in your venture!
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Originally Posted by ccroft
If I were into making smaller furniture I would still want to downsize from that Martin. The digital readouts though are good, when working.
I have no interest in restoring, or fiddling with older machines, if it can be helped.
I have another room bigger than that one behind me in the picture.
Thanks for your best wishes. Please feel free to add or advise in anyway you see fit. It will be appreciated.
Many Thanks.
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OK. Thanks for the invitation! I didn't mention it earlier as I didn't want to rain on your parade.
I have a different experience with combination machinery, particularly in a shop with a few guys. Guy1 is in the middle of a run of planing. Guy2 needs to run one edge thru a jointer. He can either wait half a day, or interrupt Guy1, make the changeover, do his 30 second thing, and change the machine back. Some inconvenience there. We prefer dedicated machines so you can just walk up to it and it's ready to go. I liked them when I had my one guy shop for that reason as well. Always at the ready.
I worked a shop that had this giant 24" planer/jointer/mortiser. The mortiser was really handy when it was set up, but it was a super PITA to go from jointing to mortising. Might have been a bad design though. I always felt I was taking my life in my hands when I used it for jointing. A monster.
I certainly do understand the space saving of 1 machine VS 2. There's always a trade-off.
The vacuum press is a great tool. We've had one for about 20 years and use it for the obvious like curved work. Curved plywood components in particular. It gets a lot of use for simple flat glue up too, and not just veneers. Much faster and often a more uniform result than cauls and 20 clamps. I haven't heard of it's use for laminate guitar plates, but I know it's ideal. No need for hard to make male/female forms that mate perfectly while allowing for the thickness of the glue up. And glueing a different thickness doesn't render them useless. The weight of the atmosphere is an awesome clamp at the touch of a button.
I hear you on vintage machinery. I have a soft-spot for the good stuff though. I briefly worked in a place that had a 50's era Wadkin. Super smooth and very cool to operate. I bet there's still some in use in your corner of the world. There's still lots of 50's Unisaws in use over here. Built for the long run and simple to repair.
I really appreciate the robust dust extraction on your bandsaw. Keeps those tires clean I'll bet!
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