TerryMcK Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 There are some specialist tools required but of course general conventional woodworking tools are required. Here are a few but it is by no means an extensive list. Conventional tools A decent bench - it doesn't have to be massive but a quite modest one will suffice Clamps - you cannot survive without clamps Vise - there are some specialist pattern makers vices that are ideal for guitar making but a normal woodworking vise will suffice Bench planes - a #4, #5 and #7 are useful Block plane - if you have a low angle block plane is will get a lot of use Shoulder plane - use this tool with its nose removed when planing the back of a head-stock to thickness Chisels - I prefer bevel edged chisels and a range from 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and the one I use the most 1" Gouges - not essential but useful when carving neck volutes and truss-rod access in head-stocks Knives - a marking knife is indispensable as are X-acto knifes or scalpels. Cabinet scrapers - an incredibly useful tool and is used a lot in lutherie. There are several types and the swan necked one is very useful on the back of necks. Don't forget a burnisher to apply a hook. Rasps - I like the Auriou and Liogier hand-stitched rasps - expensive but will last a lifetime Files - engineering files are useful Coping saw - great for cutting curved edges in thin materials Straight edges and rules - a 24" straight edge is an essential piece of equipment - a selection of steel engineering rules are prerequisites for accurate measurement Square and sliding bevel - woodworking or engineering squares, a combination square and a sliding bevel are great tools to have Sharpening stones and honing guides - whatever type you use make sure you keep all tool edges sharp Selection of good screwdrivers Set of nut spinners or 1/4" square drive socket set Machine Tools A workshop of general woodworking machinery is not essential but helps if you convert rough sawn lumber into square edged boards. Tablesaw Planer/Thicknesser Jointer Drill press Router - both handheld and in a table Oscillating spindle sander Disk sander Drum sander - not essential but good to have - wish I had one! and one of the most used tools - a bandsaw for cutting all those curves Other hand held power tools Battery drill and drill bits (bradpoints, long series drills and regular twist drills) Random orbit sander Specialist Tools Gents saw also known as a fret slot cutting saw (not a fret saw bizarrely) - used to cut fret slots Dial gauge or digital calipers - used to measure thicknesses of flat stock Hygrometer - used to keep tab on the humidity levels in the workshop Circle cutting tools - consists of a blade that rotates in a compass - used to cut the trench for rosette inlaying Bending iron - a solid metal former heated internally by an electrical element. Used to bend guitar or violin sides Fretting hammer or fret press - used to press frets into their slots Fret snippers - used to cut off excess metal from the ends of the fret once installed Fret stone - a coarse and fine sided sharpening tool used to dress frets Fretting files - there are a few used to clean up frets; a triangular miniature file, a curved file and also a set of files used to cut nut slots Reamer - several tapered hand reamers used to make taper holes in guitar bridge for bridge pins and in violin family instruments for tapered tuning pegs. Fret slot mitre box - not strictly used for cutting mitres but for accurately guiding the saw when cutting fret slots in a finger board Soldering iron Piercing saw or jewellers saw - used to cut mother of pearl Diamond files - used to clean up the edges of mother of pearl Digital multimeter - used to test your wiring - you may already have one of these in your household tools. Bridge clamp - used to clamp a bridge in place through the soundhole. These can be expensive and have a deep throat but are fairly shallow in height Shop amplifier - any old guitar amp will do. I use a solid state cheapo amp Electronic tuner - musical instrument tuners are very cheap these days - you can even use an app on your smarphone Tools you can make in the shop Wooden cam clamp - many plans are available on the internet Calipers - bought lutherie calipers can be expensive so you can actually make your own Sanding sticks - a small piece of wood with an abrasive glued on - make several with different grits Tools you don't need A Festool Domino - I have never seen one used in luthiery but if you can demonstrate one being used them post below As you see there are many tools you probably already have. If you want to get into luthiery whether repairing a buddies guitar or making full blown instruments you only need a few more specialist tools that you can buy as and when you need them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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