Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Storebought or Homemade: Tell Us!
PSmill
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:23 pm
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by PSmill »

Hi, I have ordered a John Hall kit and am looking to gather up a decent set of tools needed. I have a decent wood working shop, but no specialized guitar tools. Looking at callipers, 24" straight edge, nut files, clamps, jig building hardware (body form), fret tools, glues, and so on. Prefer to spend a few hundred and not a $1000....any ideas would be appreciated! Tnx. P
MaineGeezer
Posts: 1711
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by MaineGeezer »

You don't actually NEED a lot of the specialized tools that are sold. They may make a job easier, but one can build a guitar without them.
Basic stuff you will need include a few good chisels (a reasonable assortment might be 1/8", 3/8", and 5/8"), a small block plane, a larger plane, and way to sharpen the chisels and plane irons so they will shave hairs off your arm.
And clamps. Lots of clamps.
A Go-Bar deck or equivalent is probably worth setting up.
Radius dishes.
Body mold.
A way to cut the binding and purfiing channels. The cheap solution for this is a gramil. The best (IMO) solution for this is the Fleishman binding machine, as sold by John, but it's not cheap. A gramil is a very reasonable alternative.
A way to cut the channels for the rosette. A trim router on a pivot works well for this.
A way to clamp the bridge when gluing it on, either deep-throat clamps or a Fox bridge clamp.

There is undoubtedly other stuff, but that list will get you a long way.

LMI will slot and radius a fretboard for 18 bucks. At that price, I see little incentive to do the job yourself except for being able to say that you did it yourself.
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by tippie53 »

here are some links I use
http://www.japarts.ca
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
PSmill
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:23 pm
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by PSmill »

Great thanks! Will look into building a go bar deck and it to my list of pre-build chores.
MaineGeezer
Posts: 1711
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by MaineGeezer »

Note that a go-bar deck can be pretty simple. My "go-bar deck" is my bench top and the ceiling of the basement. Four-foot fiberglass driveway marker rods fit that space with just about the right amount of bend pressure.
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

If you have a harbor freight nearby, look for their 33' wire pullers. They cost $9 per set. They're made of fiberglass, and can be cut to length for gobars. I made my deck from pvc pipe, 3/4" plywood and the wire pullers. HF is a great place to buy clamps; you can never have too many clamps.

Stay away from HF chisels. They don't stay sharp. It sounds like you have a lot of tools already, so you may not need a plane or chisels. But if you do, I use a Stanley 6" adjustable low angle block plane almost daily. You can find a new sweetheart, but I found a used English version. It's the one entirely made in Sheffield. It stays scary sharp, is easy to work with, and is much cheaper than a Sweetheart.

The model number is a Stanley G12-060. They're not made anymore, but you'll find them on Ebay. I paid $25 for mine, and it was still in the box, barely used. It's an excellent plane.

I recommend having 2 chisels. I use an 1/8" and 5/8" daily. Irwin Blue Chip chisels are reasonably priced, easy to find, and hold an edge. If you want better chisels without breaking the bank, I highly recommend Two Cherries and Dastra. Here is a great site for German and English made tools. They also have luthier hand tools:

https://www.diefenbacher.com/german.htm
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by tippie53 »

another good source are flea markets
I got a set of stanley chisels but found many old chisels for cheap.
Underhill
stanley
Bailey
Millers fall
area few of the names you want to look for
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
PSmill
Posts: 111
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2018 12:23 pm
Location: British Columbia, Canada

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by PSmill »

Thanks for all the extra info! Building spool clamps today.
Kbore
Posts: 299
Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:58 pm
Location: St. Louis area

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by Kbore »

Measure Twice,

Karl B
MaineGeezer
Posts: 1711
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm

Re: Assembling tools and supplies for first kit build

Post by MaineGeezer »

If you go to flea markets, look for the people selling "used tools" vs. the ones selling "antiques and collectibles." Though not always the case, I generally find that a tool sold as a "collectible" costs more than the same tool does when ti's merely a "used tool."
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
Post Reply