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Permalink Reply by Hal Robertson on October 18, 2016 at 5:00am

Quick thoughts... a Japanese/Dovetail/Pull saw would be useful. Wood files, sanding block(s) and sandpaper. Hammer and screwdrivers. Needlenose and/or Flush cut pliers. Glue and rags. How's that for basic!?

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on October 18, 2016 at 5:05am

I really am an advocate for learning to use traditional hand tools, as once learned, these are skills that will stand you in good stead. As important as learning how to learn to use the tools is learning how to sharpen some of them, in particular chisels and planes. Basic tools, of the top of my head I can think of  screwdrivers (pozi and flat blade), try square, 3 foot steel straightedge (marked in inches and millimetres), tenon saw, chisels, mallet, flat and half round files, jack plane, cast iron c-clamps, soldering iron and stand, side cutters, small hammer, craft knife, scalpel. I'm sure other people will have their own favourites, and I'm sure I will have missed out some vital ones, but don't rush to get stuff in one go, buy it as you need it. If you can afford it, buy decent stuff - you don't have to pay top dollar for pro tools, but some of the really cheap tools are total junk. Most jobs can be done with hand tools, it will just take longer to do than with power tool, and at least with a hand tool your mistakes happen slower than with a power tool. Though not essential for a beginner, one of my favourite tools is the spokeshave (I have 3 of them) - they are great for shaping necks, and that's the way I still carve my necks. I've got a fair amount of workshop power tools, but I'm making a lot of stuff all the time, and I made over 200 guitars with just hand tools and a cheap pillar drill. First power tool to buy - a pillar drill. The most over-rated power tool in my view is the Dremel - great for cutting f-holes, but that's pretty much all I use mine for.

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Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on October 18, 2016 at 8:20am

I couldn't build anything without a D shape rasp for carving my necks.

I use a junior hack saw for my frets. And various other uses.

Anything with a right angle is as good as a set square. Until you get some cash. Just be careful.

A set of chisels, these can be a cheap set until such times as you want to start paying large notes for stuff.

A hand drill with various size drill bits.

Then stuff like screwdrivers, a hammer, a Stanley/craft knife, a ruler, a measuring tape.

Depending on your neck builds.. Clamps & wood glue.

My first build used a pre-made neck from an old guitar, a box, a Stanley knife, screwdriver, junior hack saw, an old file, hand drill. Not much else.

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Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on October 18, 2016 at 8:52am

My first I built with a drill, small set of bits, dovetail saw, coping saw (for curves on the headstock), spokeshave, pencil, combo square, sandpaper, screwdriver, and a four-in-hand (four tool surfaces...flat and curved profiles on file and rasp). Oh, and a box cutter (a.k.a., razor knife) to score the paper surface before cutting with the saw.

You could build anything from a basic "made from the junk pile" guitar to a work of art with those tools.

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Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on October 18, 2016 at 9:01am

I agree, it depends on how you approach the build.

You don't need all the Gizmo's until you want to start to mass produce and you want things to go faster per build.

Hand tools rock.

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on October 18, 2016 at 1:14pm

The stability of your new workbench is probably the best single item amongst your list, a good solid bench with a vice, and the ability to clamp things to it, will make all your other purchases much more useable, many great guitars have been made on kitchen tables etc, but a bench you can hammer, glue , clamp on etc is a very good asset

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Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on October 18, 2016 at 5:31pm

I don't have one. It's frustrating at times but you can live without it. 

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on October 18, 2016 at 3:06pm

While I generally agree with the others and have most of that stuff and more, for a first build if you buy a neck or built a simple fretless cbg all you need is a basic saw, a rasp, a rat tail file, sandpaper, and a drill with a set of bits.  Consider making a simple one before making your dream guitar.  Take a look at the plans on this site. Also there is a youtube about building one in an hour.  While the hour part did not work for me, it is a simple build that is a great way to start.

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Permalink Reply by Eliah Holiday on October 18, 2016 at 5:54pm

Hey, thanks all.

I got a good shopping list. Not going to go too crazy first time round. I'm going to put off making my own necks for the time being, at least till I could a good idea of how a good one is made and feels. I like the idea of hand tools. Gonna get myself a foldable Black & Decker workbench as I have no room in my tiny place for anything else. Definitely don't want to go to crazy on buying tools. Heck I see some chisel sets go for over $700! There's a tool library near where I live might be worth the $100 a year membership. I have a drill and screwdriver set. Getting a bench soon. So I guess I'm looking at buying about 10-12 tools to get started.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on October 19, 2016 at 2:54am

got myself a Black and Decker clone last week . one of the big chain hardware store was closing down and i got it for $20 AUD...  it seems sturdy enough for guitar necks . the one thing i do want to get is a drill press gizmo for my hand drill. this sort of thing

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/331883878729?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l264...

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Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on October 19, 2016 at 4:04am

Yup. I want one of these too

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Permalink Reply by JL on October 19, 2016 at 4:13am

Drill, drill bits, - you have...

drill bit index - a plastic card full of holes with labels for what size each hole is - essential for picking out the right drill bit, especially for installing pots, jacks, tuners.

a good sharp thin kerf hand saw, perhaps the $9 harborfreight pull saw, cuts fast and easy.

A good half-round file to clean up and fine tune a cut out opening, clean up a cut end, etc.

sandpaper

clamps, clamps, clamps, clamps (and in case I forgot, clamps)  - a good combo kit with 2 or 3 each of several types is a good place to start. No matter how many you have, you often run into a situation where you need 1 more of whatever you just used all that you had.

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