Hey yall,
My wife and I have just bought a house, and will no longer be living in apartments with grumpy neighbors! I'm really excited that I've already got a workbench here... But there are no tools!
My very first project will be my first CBG build. I've been reading around on the forums and know that there are some basic tools I'll need for the woodworking and finishing involved - a drill, sandpaper, and so forth.
Having just taken on a large debt, there isn't a lot of money to go and buy one of everything that the hardware store has in stock. What multi-tool have you found to be the most useful and versatile for working with CBGs?
Aside from multipurpose tools, is there anything that one may not initially think to get that has turned out to be the best tool in the box?
Has anyone found a golden hammer?
Thanks!
Tags:
Golden hammer? Hey I need one of those!
Seriously though. That is a pretty broad question, but I will toss my hat in the ring.
I am assuming you have the bare basics like screwdrivers, razor knives, and things like that. My "Gotta Have" list would be as follows..
1, A couple of good bar clamps. Irwin makes a pretty good one for a decent price. 12" should be good enough. The big orange store, and the big blue store usually has a little selection on sale for 20 bucks or so.
2, A good, stout, aluminum yardstick. They can be used for rough measurement, as well as a rigid straightedge.
3, A small Japanese pull saw. Another 15 bucks at the blue or orange place, but you will use it all the time.
I am sure there are tons of great ideas out there, this is just an off the cuff suggestion.
When the funds allow, I think the first power tool I bought would be a small drill press. Just my opinion. Just trying to think of the tools I use on EVERY build.
A spokeshave is an essential for me for getting the neck to size before sanding.Clamps,sharp,very sharp chisels,craft knife, a good fret saw and all the usual screwdrivers and drill/drill bits.
But I wouldn`t be without my spokeshave
my main tools are a smoothing plane (41/2),spokeshave, 2 chisels, handsaw ,fretsaw and piercingsaw,alu yardstick , trysquare, brace and bits.and the usual power tools , scrollsaw ( i can even cut aluminium plate for control plates with this) hand drill, palm sander, belt sander, plunge router and a hand planer , that's it . i would like more but ...
I'm kinda a tool junkie but have pared down to mostly hand tools and enjoy making CBG's that way. I shop yard sales to find tools and don't forget Harbor Freight even if there's not a store close they have cheap shipping. I agree about the power tools a drill press and a Dremel are used a lot.
#1 - Dremel , with a dremel and the right attachments you can make a whole build. Basic hand tools, that's a no brainer !
I totally agree, I made about 8 or 9 before I had my dremel, now that I got it I can't see working without it. I use it to sand, drill wholes, cut, you name it this is probably my #1 tool I would and wish I would have got at the very start of making cbg, now up to 22 cbgs.
You can build a guitar with a knife, a coping saw and a drill. Add a screwdriver if you want to use machines instead of pegs. And you will want some glue, as well.
Everything else is just a labor saving device. My favorite labor savers are a backsaw, a block plane (don't skimp!) a Nicholson four-in-hand, and a few grits of sand paper.
Some people actually use state of the art woodshops with all manner of table saws, routers, and drill presses to make cigar bow guitars. Like using a Viking range to heat a can of soup. (yes, I'm jealous ;-)
Basic hand tools: Square, ruler, saw, sandpaper, straightedge of some kind, etc.
Other essentials (in my mind): A Dremel (or reasonable facsimile), drill and bandsaw. I got my bandsaw for $90 on craigslist. It's a Craftsman 12" and the blades for it are only $10.
Extras: Fretsaw. I made a fretsaw out of a small hobby-sized dovetail saw with a piece of 1/4" oak glued to it. Total cost - about $10. Fret hammer. I bought a gun-maker's hammer. It's got a hard and soft plastic head. I think I paid $10.
A tabletop belt sander is nice to have too. It's cut down my build time considerably.
Do not get hung up about having to have workshop power tools. I made about 200 guitars with only hand tools and a drill press. You need to learn to to use 'classic' hand tools and not be afraid of hard work. Learn to use a good saw and sharp chisels and how to a set-up and use a plane and a spokeshave, and these skills will stand you in good stead. I've got plenty of serious workshop gear now, but then again I'm making 10 guitars and 20 - 40 guitar kits some weeks. And you can never have too many good cast iron "G"clamps.
Wow, thanks everyone! There are a few things that everyone is mentioning, so I think I'm getting a great idea of where to start.
It's a lot different from the cattle farm I grew up on, but most of these sound familiar. I'll be building guitars and making music in no time!
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