Official Luthiers Forum!

It seems that everything I've read says that for building I should get a 14" band saw. Also curious as to your thoughts on the 2 head vs 3 head planers. Not a huge price difference in the planers, but every dollar counts at this poing. Obviously getting set up for my first guitar build takes a significant amount of cash outlay in tools, jigs, forms, glues, materials etc etc. Can you educate me as to the pros and cons of starting out with either of these two items? Currently I've invested a little over $1,500.00 to start my first build and these 2 items are the last major purchases b4 I can begin.

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Bobby Masten

Well, for my money, the 14" bandsaw is one of the most useful machines in the shop. (Get the "riser"). Not comparable to the scrollsaw. Different animal & much more versitile (...different applications really). As for the planer, I've had an older Delta 12" for years ... love it!

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Dave
Milton, ON

A thickness sander is more useful than a planer.

A good 14" bandsaw with a riser block or 12-13" cut. I have a Rikon. And if you can get a 3 blade planer it would be better then a 2 plane. But I'm not sure where your info is coming from? A thickness sander is what you really need too. I would also suggest you start with building with a kit first to see if you want to invest all this money in this hobby.

... 'cept for archtops!

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Dave
Milton, ON

I assumed a thickness planer was for taking tops, back and sides down from .250 or so to a workable thickness. Care to explain in more depth?

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Bobby Masten

Not interested in a kit per se. I've looked at all the kits available and they just don't have all the things or options I want. I'm also not worried about this being a passing fancy as I like woodworking and don't really care how many average or below average guitars I have to build b4 ending up with 1 that makes me go "wooo hooo!" I'm self taught on guitar and have been writing lyrics for 25+ years, so this to me goes well with my music passion and my interest in hand building and working with wood projects.

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Bobby Masten

Bobby,You don't need a 3 knife planer or a 14" bandsaw to build guitars.I built my first without both.A 2 blade planer and a 18" scroll is all i had at that time and they are still in use today, even more-so than my 14" bandsaw and 3 blade planer that i now have. For building acoustic guitars, i find my thickness sander to be indispensible.

Mark,
Got any recommendations on brands or where to purchase them to get the best bang for the buck? I'm not being lazy, just a little overwhelmed in my tool shopping recently!

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Bobby Masten

Agree with the statements about a thickness sander rather than a planer.

I don't have a planer, and don't find the need for one - the thickness sander is pretty indispensable, though. I've got the Jet 10/20 - like it. From what I understand, you can't use the planer with figured wood, anyway, so it's less practical for planing sides, etc.

For a novice ( as I am) I agree with Todd's suggestions. The only thing I don't have on that list is a table saw, and I've been able to live without it. Another tool that is pretty indispensible is a laminate trimmer or router. As a woodworker, you're probably covered.

Regards,

I have a Jet 10-20 that works nicely for a smaller unit. I got mine at Amazon but they just happened to have the best deal at the time.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I can't resist so have to say that you can build easily enough with just a handplane, a couple chisels and a good Japanese saw, if you want. Add in a scraper, a binding cutter and a circle cutter and you are all set for real cheap, especially if you buy used.
Unless you are convinced you are going to build lots of guitars, and want to do it very fast, there is no point in spending a fortune on heavy machinery and building complicated jigs and all that.
A planer seems quite unnecessary. Get a good jack or jointer plane.
A bandsaw is great, but with a couple Japanese saws I can work just as well. They are very fast and precise.
A thickness sander is great too, especially when dealing with interlocked grain hardwoods. It is a bit of a chore to thin the back and sides with a plane but in the end I call it a good workout! As for planing spruce or cedar, I think it is one of the most enjoyable parts of the building process.
The only power tool I would really like to have right now is a drill press.

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Build log

For my laminate trimmer, I've got an American made Bosch model 91263, 1/4" shaft x 3/4hp - 30,000rpm that I bought awhile back at a hardware store that was going out of business. I'll have to pick up some additional bits and stands for it, but it's nice to finally have a use for this item!

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Bobby Masten

Like I said I think a kit would be a good place to start as you will find out what tools you will need to put it together and give you the sense of what building is about .
I use the table saw a lot for sizing wood for jigs and lots of other uses.

Seems like its time for that "how to build a guitar in 90 minutes" video (just guessing at the name). That guy only had a dremel, shooting plane, a jig saw, etc. Came out nice!


Where ever you live or live close to, see if there is a place that reconditions tools or sells scratch and dent. I am talking about good names like Jet, Powermatic, etc. I know, that might start a war...

But whatever you do, take your time and learn what is out there, what is liked and what is not and why.

The one thing that can easily be said is get a thickness sander like the 10-20 Performax/Jet. There is one for sale in the classifieds. Other than that, I don't know how you climb that hill any faster... but, try not to get sucked into Borg tools just cause they are there.

Chris is offering you good advice on the kit guitar. I did one and so did a lot of other folks here. Somehow, you just can never anticipate all that you will need. And if we could tell you that, you might go running in the opposite direction.

And we haven't even talked about JIGS yet!

Mike

Building guitars seems to be an incurable disease. If you are only going to build one guitar( good luck with that) you can get by with a limited amount of power tools. But if you are going to keep building(most likely you will)you should have some basics.My most important tool by far is the table saw.Roughing out wood,making and slotting fingerboards, making kerfed lining,making necks,scarf joint ,mortise and tenon joint,shaping bridges,cutting accurate X brace joints,etc etc and as Paul has pointed out for making jigs and such.Not sure how folks get along without one.Your router will be of use and on my list.A band saw would be next preferably one with a riser block as someone has mentioned. A thickness sander is a work saver but you can get by without it for a guitar or two. A few hand tools,digital or dial caliper,a few hand planes,a scraper,a 24" straight edge,a 6 or 12 scale,loads of clamps,a few good chisles.That's it for now ,have to go . Good luck.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I also recommend a kit for your first one as it saves you from buying so many things at once (for example, how will you bend the sides? how will you thickness your top/back/sides? how do you know what wood to select for your top? etc.) While building your first you will figure out the things you can do easily and what power tools you think are important. I'm still working on my first and had a table saw, drill press, router and router table, and various hand tools before starting. Since, I've purchased a 14" band saw with riser block (used), and 4" belt sander (used) and just ordered a new trim router for binding. The tool I miss most is a thickness sander. Still want to but or build a bending machine (for future builds) and will make some kind of binding jig or machine for this build.

John Hall will custom make you a kit with practically any option you might want. You choose the wood for back/sides and your top, the body type (dreadnaught, OM, etc), the scale length, fretboard material, bridge material and style, etc. John will work with you to help you succeed and maybe the biggest benefit is you can call or e-mail John with questions......how much is that worth?

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Don't forget all those frretting tools and a then there's the finishing tools and a shop and a spray booth and dust collection gear. You might want to plan on spending about $10k easy. Just for starters.
Then there's the wood.

Do you have a thickness sander? I would not worry about a planer. With a good bandsaw (blade and fence!!, not the crappy ones that come with the saws) you can resaw to a usable thickness then thin down with the thickness sander. My first power tool purchase was an oscillating spindle sander (Rigid, declared Best Buy by Fine Woodworking, and yes, its a dang good deal... ask anybody in here) and then my performax thickness sander. After that, well, I kind of went nuts. I still do not own a planer... but if HD ever puts the DW735 on sale for $137, I'm in!

Again, there is a very good thickness sander for sale in the classifieds. BTW, I prowl Woodnet & SawMillCreek for deals all of the time (as well as our very own classifieds forum).

I found a guy on SMC who gave up carving for digital photography and I now own a fantastic set of 2 Cherry Chisels, stones, pond, etc. at way below retail. You just have to be patient.

One reason for building a kit is that you simply do not know what you do not know. John Hall rocks and your experience with him and his (Martin) kits will encourage you to keep on growing in this area.

Mike

I find both a scroll saw and band saw both come in handy but the band saw wins out for guitar building. A scroll saw has a more limited cut depth compared to a band saw. Easier to resaw on a band saw also. It cuts a hell of a lot faster and better to. As for 2 head 3 head planer i can't make a comparison since i only have a two head but I am satisfied with its cutting. As for a thickness sander being more versatile then a planer.Yes it is! But it doesn't replace a planer in my opinion. A planer will resize stock at a faster and better rate then a sander. I also recommend a jointer to. Maybe not necessary if you buy all your wood already sized as blanks. I don't so i like the ability to be able to finish rough sawn woods to size.