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I'm doing as much reading as I can on building a classical guitar. I'm most likely going to use the plans from Classical Guitar Making: A Modern Approach to Traditional Design for my first build. I'm looking into getting a Band Saw. Is a 9" band saw large enough? From the book and some posts I've read mostly mention a 14" band saw.

Any other specific tools you consider a "must have" or even a "wish I had" for your first build.

Thanks

Joel

Joel, the question to ask is "what do I need the bandsaw for?" I've got a very small shop, and a Ryobi 9" saw. Out of the box it was useless. After a careful setup and a good quality blade, it now does everything I ask of it, although that's not much, and what it does it generally does slowly. I use it for ripping brace stock, but I clean up with a hand plane. I use it for ruffing out tops and backs. I use it for cutting my necks, although when you get into neck thickness woods, it's a bit slow. I cut electric bodies with it, but REALLY slowly. It's a very limited tool. If I had the room and funds, I'd have a much bigger saw. If you go with one, make sure you but a good quality blade on it, most of the stock ones are garbage.

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Rob

All of your bandsaw questions can likely be answered in this thread....

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=27887

I'm nearly done setting up my shop, but this was one of the last pieces I added. I already had a table saw and access to a drill press (not mine), but I needed a lot of hand planes (which cost more than you would think). I also added a drum sander before the bandsaw, however I still need better dust collection. Just some things to think about. If you do go with a couple power tools like I did, don't forget to factor in dust collection. I though I could get by with a little unit, but it's not going to happen.

Good Luck

I probably made too many mistakes by buying stuff that I didn't really need such as a band saw and table saw etc. What I have discovered is that these tools are not directly used to make a guitar but are used, in the main, to make jigs to help you make a guitar.

Having said that they do make life easier but are not essential.

I bought a 6" band saw and it is adequate for my current needs, I also bought a 200mm table saw and a router table. With the amount of jigs that you will need it is hard to imagine what I would have done without them.

John

A good jigsaw will outperform a cheap and too small bandsaw any day, and will probably be more affordable anyway.

For your first, buy tools as you really need them, not as you think that you'll need them.

I'd also suggest that "Making Master Guitars" is a more complete and useful book for a first time builder than the book that you suggest. Regardless, it should still be considered a useful tool to have!

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Thanks for the replies and links. Other than cutting the tops and backs I would use it for making molds and jigs. I have some other non luthier projects I could use it for. Im also interested is using it for resawing. Im really interested in soundboard dynamics and have a few crazy ideas id like to try (topic for another thread soon)



Thanks again
Joel