#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Best tools for a beginner?

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!

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on June 4, 2013 at 3:14am

Here's a good reminder to keep it simple. This is about my favorite work surface. I'm sitting on an overturned 5 gallon bucket. I can make a really nice curved and tapered neck just using the block plane and sand paper. Fast too. A set of files including a wood rasp is handy too. Allow the building to evolve over time and save everything you do. It's a real reward to see the change over a year or two of building a few guitars. Have fun!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kevin (Voodoo Rat) Hoelting on June 4, 2013 at 3:55am

Right on ED! It is kind of easy to forget that these things were originally made on a porch with a pocketknife!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on June 4, 2013 at 4:52am

Thanks Kevin. I probably have a dozen work benches and tables. This still feels the best to me. But then again, I'm not making 100 of them a year either.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by jeff burgoyne on June 12, 2013 at 5:55pm

a draw knife a grinder with sandpaper disk this takes wood down real fast. and jap pull saw ruler clamps these are what i have to work with and on my to get list a table saw

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on June 14, 2013 at 8:36am

Three power tools I can not do without (or don't want to) Drill, palm sander, jigsaw. Those and some clamps are used on every build I have ever done.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on June 14, 2013 at 9:03am

Three power tools I can not do without (or don't want to) Drill, palm sander, jigsaw. Those and some clamps are used on every build I have ever done.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter J Thorne on June 14, 2013 at 7:34pm

All the tools that have been listed are important.The one power tool that has proven invaluable to me, has been a router fixed to a table. A 1/2 inch straight bit and a few homemade jigs can acomplish a wide range of tasks, even a poor mans jointer.My first router was a Christmas gift.My second was a garage find for 20 bucks.I now own 5 of them. There's your golden hammer.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dooder on June 25, 2013 at 1:05pm

The only two power tools that I use are a table saw and a hand drill. Actually, I could do without the hand drill, but my bit and brace puts out so much torque that I fear destroying box tops when making sound holes. Table saw is used for cutting neck stock. I walked into a sweetheart deal on craigslist a while back and have a very large supply of hard maple for neck material. Trust me, you don't want to be ripping that stuff by hand. As for other tools, school yourself on what quality tools look and feel like and then start haunting craigslist and flea markets. Knowing how to refurbish and sharpen is critical if you go this route, learn how to put an edge on your tools, and learn when to walk away. My best finds were not the shiny ones at big blue or orange, but the rusty grungy ones that need a little work. I picked up a number eight jointer plane at a flea market for ten bucks, two hours work on the sole, two more on the iron, and I have a plane that will surface any board I want. I have a power planer, but its limited to 12 inches. I can do any board I have the strength to deal with using that beast, and faster. I would say, be creative, be patient, and learn how to truly listen to people when you ask questions. I have come across some of my best deals by simply spending time listening to people and picking up on what they are telling me.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dooder on June 25, 2013 at 1:09pm

As for rounding the back sides of necks, a good crooked knife would do nicely. You can make your own for a few hours work and under ten bucks, plus, when using the tool, there is no need for a vice, clamps, or a workbench. Your feet serve as all three. Do a search, its an inexpensive tool that works great. There are a handful of us still making them, but it's so simple to make your own. Plus, it's really really cool to tell someone "I made this guitar using tools that I also made"

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Clarky on June 25, 2013 at 10:29pm

Like most here I started with a saw and drill and that's about it. Before I bought clamps I would just balance something heavy on the guitar while it glued overnight lol. As I've advanced I've added a few tools to make it quicker but I'm not going mad. I only just got a Dremel and recently bought one of the Black and Decker Mouse sanders so not spending much. Most of my work is still just hand tools, chisels, hammer, saw, small pointed saw for cutting sound holes etc. Couldn't be without clamps now right enough.