Official Luthiers Forum!

This is a really nice forum; just thought I'd introduce myself (I'm a man of wealth and taste).

I'm about as noob as noob gets. I'm just trying to put together an indoor workspace. My wife really would let me have a band saw in the kitchen, but that's my area. I'm the cook, and I wouldn't want it! I live just east of Austin, Texas. You know, where the deer and the wildfires roam. Obviously, with the garage being off limits most of the year, guitarmaking and such is best performed inside.

So, with wood on the way and Cumpiano and Natelson in hand, does anyone have any suggestions? What comes next, and how do I unload after I aim the gun away from my toes? And how can I get started in what sometimes passes as living space?

Phil

Welcome to the circus It takes time to get going in your situation , be patient and ask lotsa questions . people here are very helpfull . There are several here who build in their living space so I am sure they will be popping in with suggestions soon .

Glad to have you

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Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
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Years ago a friend of mine literally built a guitar in his kitchen. Of course he was in college with college roommates that didn't much care. But he was really good about cleaning up after himself. And he would do all sanding and making of saw dust out side. If you build one and find that you love it then you could convert your garage into a shop. But that would be a big investment in a hobby. My shop is in a room in my house. I am fortunate enough to have a large porch outside to keep the band saw and planner and drum sander. It's protected from rain and snow with a roof. Not the best way to keep equipment but it's worked for ten years now.

Seems to me I remember that Hesh built his first four or so in a bathroom in his condo.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

What's the problem with the garage? The first thing I did was to seal up my garage and install a window unit.

+1 on the window unit/garage. After the 0300 flood the other night (are we having fun yet?), I need to check out the condition of the stored window units.

I think your right, He called his guitars "Flushtones".

Later didn't he use a 2nd bedroom with white carpet.
But then he's kind of a neat freek!

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Started my career as a luthier in my bedroom - working at my desk.
You could always tell when it had been a productive day.
When I hit the hay the wood dust would fly!

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I seem to recall reading that Romanillos made his first guitar on his kitchen table, so you are in good company. I would suggest using hand planes and scrapers rather than sanders to keep the dust down. Hand tools generally take up less space and and are quieter to use than most power tools and may help preserve domestic tranquility. Also get a workmate or something similar that folds up out of the way to use as a work bench. Avoid using the kitchen table if possible. Drop cloths are also good for protecting the floor and fast clean up of dust and wood chips.

Hi Phil, and welcome to the forum. We can always use another man of wealth around.
Taste, now, is another thing. Entirely optional, and if you hang around long enough you'll find it's mostly overrated.

What to do first? Read that good book. Then read it again.
Keep a presence here and as stated earlier, ask beaucoup questions.
And start planning what you'd like to own or give away. Your first few won't be quite as nice as your last few.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I built my first guitar on the floor in my living room. I still work in the house most of the time because my garage isnt heated or attached to my house, so if I want to glue anything, I need to do it indoors. The wife doesnt mind as long as I clean up when I'm done.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Here is a link to a build done entirely in the kitchen.
http://acousticguitarbuild.blogspot.com/

Hi there and be most cheerfully welcomed, fellow gentleman of robust wealth and refined taste. I´m shure you´ll find it quite palatable here.
I began to build my first in the kitchen, and to be honest i kinda miss it...it´s cold in the freakin´garage...

cheers,
miguel.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

If I were a rich man,
I would buy a Festool sander and the vacuum that it needs.
All day long Hesh'd build them in his room.
While his Festool kept his carpet white.

Also, Benedetto made his first guitar [i]out of [i] his kitchen table.

Welcome to the forum and remember, most of the mistakes you make can be fixed. We've made them all, and will be glad to guide you through the fixes. Lots of great people here.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

I hear saw dust soup is the bomb too!

Hi Phil,
I'm quite new here too and also feel I've just begun on the road of lutherie.
I'm lucky to be an amateur in the sense that I can build just because I enjoy it. Initially I was always looking for the fast route through but nowadays I'm more into the process (or a balance of the 2).
The most important things for me that make building pleasurable and effective are; sharp tools, ways to clamp the guitar from all directions and good lighting. Get all three sorted then get on with it.
My second advice would be don't worry too much about your first build. Buy cheapish materials make loads of mistakes but keep on moving on to the wonderful moment when the strings vibrate and you realise that you can make a decent sounding instrument. then on second build really try to improve and take longer over everything.
good luck.

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

I will have have to agree with Joe. Do one to see if you like it and if it's something you want to pursue in the first place. I was interested in lutherie and went with moderate priced materials to give myself the best chance, but skimped out on a lot of tools.. like radius dishes and a router. I used my leatherman as a chisel and my $19 dremel knock-off to make the whole thing. I did have to pay for a mold and a few specialty tools. But like Joe said, i finished with a lot of work and it was fun. It didn't look as great as I would have liked but it sounded good.

I then invested in radius dishes, a router, and a few nicer (precision) tools and my second came out infinitely better. I recently just bought a drum sander and am working my third which I hope will be even better.

My biggest lesson is that it is worth it to pay a little more to get the right tool for the right job and precise tools for precision work. In lutherie, 1/100th of an inch matters.

Hi Phil,

Pleased to meet you.
Hope you guess my name!

Cheers,
Dave F. (doh, gave it away!)

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

I started my "career" in a shared flat building the kitchen, then back in Taiwan did almost all my building in a small 10 x 10 room.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Thanks to everyone for all the kind words. As a matter of fact, I just got my 1st care package in the mail containing a nice looking rosewood back and sides set, a spruce soundboard, and enough binding to get me through the 39th Austin BDSM Festival.

And wow, it's amazing; rosewood really does ring when struck! Next: I must learn how to split brace wood.