I've had lots of people email me, either because they can't easily locate just where on my site (it is quite a large site!) they saw a description of a particular tool or jig, or because they want to know more details about the tools or jigs I mention on the site. So, I thought it might be a good idea to update my list of tools, so they're all in one place!!! These are the most-used tools and jigs I've come to accumulate over the years of my amateur lutherie hobby. When I started, I had barely anything. As I experienced a need for a particular tool, I added to my collection. Now, you don't really need all of these tools to build instruments — but they sure do make certain tasks easier!!! Most of these tools are available at any hardware or woodworking store; the ones I've marked with an * are specialty lutherie tools and are usually available only from places like Stew-Mac, LMI, or such places. (By the way, "SM" means "Stewart Macdonald".) |
POWER TOOLS: |
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| For routing truss rod slots, template-routing | |
| 1100 rpm, $99 from Caswell Plating (stand extra)!!! | |
| I love this tool!!! Makes thicknessing tops, backs, anything extremely easy!!! | |
| My newest tool — it made squaring up a 3" by 4" neck blank very easy. | |
| Drilling tuner holes, inlay dot cavities, etc. Also used with the "Luthier's Friend" for thickness sanding small parts or template-sanding small parts. | |
| My old drill press | |
| Used to run my HVLP spray gun | |
| For use with waterbase lacquers | |
| For inlaying, soundhole/purfling rings, saddle-slotting | |
| For hand-bending sides, binding | |
| I'm no good at other methods of sharpening chisels, etc. This makes it easy. |
MARKING/MEASURING: |
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| For checking fretted fingerboard straightness | |
| For checking string height above fret | |
| Measures both in 1/64” and .01” increments | |
| Equal spacing between strings for various nut widths | |
| Invaluable for precise fingerboard slotting measurements!!! | |
| Inches (down to 1/64” & .01”) and metric (down to 0.5mm) | |
| 4” & 6” sizes | |
| Great for checking neck profiles!!! | |
| Very handy for converting metric to inches (and vice-versa)!! | |
CLAMPING: |
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| From an article in the GAL Lutherie Tools book | |
| I have 8 large and 8 small ones. | |
| Just right for gluing on the bridge | |
| I have 8 regular-size ones and a couple of long ones. | |
| Both the metal and plastic ones (1”, 2”, and 3” ones) | |
| Small ones --- great for clamping kerfed linings | |
| With a rubber band for increased pressure, also good for clamping kerfing | |
Swivels 360° and tightens as you close the jaws. The original red Versa-Vise is no longer available, but several places now sell a similar vise — the Shop Fox "Parrot Vise". |
