Official Luthiers Forum!

The wife's curling iron came in handy to bend some veneer for a backstrap (where you've got that tight curl at the volute), and I imagine it would be good for other sharp bends. She's got 1/2" and 3/4" diameter irons.

I can't believe this thread has made it to the 4 page mark without a single mention of bondo.

Please don't go there!!!

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Cheap plastic table cloths (That I may have been the culprit of ruining them on the table) are handy for myriad uses... like when painting in the bathroom... planing on the kitchen table... etc.
Nail polish remover (Acetone flavored) will cut Superglue...
Vinegar will cut uncured Epoxy
Cheap bathroom mats and ugly/mismatched towels as Scratch and Dent protectors on the workbench...
Pot holders and oven mitts make great hand protectors when bending sides...
Hair/Plant spritzer bottle is handy for lots of stuff too...

Then these others may not count as "Products" .... but they are Household things that I use often..
"Desk" as Workbench
and "Kitchen table" as Workbench
and "Kitchen Countertop" as workbench
and "Stove top" as fireproof workbench when bending sides
and "Kitchen Sink" as fireproof workbench when bending sides

Thanks

John

I just thought to go back to this old thread to see if anyone mentioned Q-tips. I don't believe anybody did.

I stained a mahogany guitar this week and used a Q-tip to apply shellac to the Indian rosewood binding, and the white plastic rosette, to help keep the Transtint red mahogany color off of 'em.

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"...you have to get over your strict adherence to your largely imagined notion of absolute perfection..."

Yes indeed, and if you're going to use swabs and are concerned about lint, These Lint Free Swabs are perfect for the task.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Most of "ALL of ABOVE"...I do prefer the blue automotive shop paper towels. Worth the extra .50 a roll.
KB

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

Well dudes, being an artist, my "house" is my studio / shop. As such me don't think in terms of houshould products as much as "if it gets the pig clean ...I'll use it." ... including toilet paper...but I won't buy that "recycled toilet paper"...just something about using recycled TP that don't quite sit rite with the Padma.

peace and carrotts

Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Fiberglass insualtion for air filters.
Wax paper as tool protection when gluing.
Cotton balls for wipe on finishes.
Big, plastic ketchup bottles as solvent or paint dispensers.
Every glass food jar - if I can get the label off.
Heavy shrink wrap as vacuum bagging.
Rubber bands - as a universal clamp.
Rubber bands around pliers to act as a spring loaded holding fixture for spraying small parts.
Cotton swabs for touch-up and spot filling.

Next....I'm going to rig up an old bbq rotiserie for mixing shellac from flake.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Imperia pasta cutter for cutting veneer into purfling. Welding torch tip cleaners are great for filing string slots in nuts.

Bob

I keep one of those scrubby sponges under the head of my ukulele in the case to ease the shock on the head if the case is dropped. The scrubby stuff holds it in place.

I built a steam generator out of a capuchino maker. Get the kind with a steam line valve.

Pam is a dryish lubricant for bandsaw blades.

Bob

BiCarbonate of soda (Baking powder)

Mixed with warn water to about a 3% solution is excellent in helping to dislove superglue (CA) from the eyeball.....

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Mike Lindstrom

baby food jars
rubber bands
bread/ garbage bag ties
very well worn baby blankets and T-shirts
empty window cleaner spray bottles
nylon mason`s twine

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

and you can add a little sea salt or NON iodized water and make a nasal lavage.

re ...it was not that bad... thankfully its non-toxic, and solidifiies quite quickly - disolves completing after a day or so, but man is it irritating - feels like a bit of grit stuck stuck to your eye... the bicarb mix really helps - should really wear