Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin (Voodoo Rat) Hoelting on June 2, 2013 at 1:35pm

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.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by t-belly johnson on June 2, 2013 at 4:17pm

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

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on June 2, 2013 at 8:46pm

Whatever you got.
There's a hundred ways to do any given job, it's amazing how people devise different ways of doing stuff. I was given a 12' disc sander when I was just getting into this and that really shaped the way I do a lot of stuff. If you want a power tool to go buy I'd suggest a dremel tool or a good copy

A bandsaw is indispensable, once you've had access to one its real hard to go back to doing without.
Ditto for a drill press, table saw, scroll saw, plunge router, table router, belt and disc sander etc etc..
Whatever you can beg, borrow or steal, that's what you need mate. Then just do it, some guys pull it off on a kitchen table with nothing but a steak knife and a hand drill.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jabes on June 2, 2013 at 9:44pm

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 ...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by 3 Fingered Ape on June 2, 2013 at 10:20pm

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.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on June 2, 2013 at 10:40pm

#1 - Dremel , with a dremel and the right attachments you can make a whole build.  Basic hand tools, that's a no brainer !

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Josh Thompson on June 3, 2013 at 3:55am

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.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Seaman Jay on June 3, 2013 at 4:05am

Basic set:

+ a workbench

The black box is my "Dremel"...

What I'd buy next? A bandsaw.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Charles Humbach on June 3, 2013 at 6:03am

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 ;-)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Craig Mayhem on June 3, 2013 at 8:22am

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. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on June 3, 2013 at 8:48am

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.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Wood on June 3, 2013 at 9:09am

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!

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page