Official Luthiers Forum!

So my name is Doug and I have a new problem: I can't stop buying cool tools for this new world of lutherie.

What is your personal fav? Bought, made or modified.

Here's mine...

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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

Yes, pencils are amazingly versatile.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I never could get perfect plate joints until I made this thing.

Along with it, my sharpening setup... two DMT dia-sharps (extra-extra coarse and extra fine), a set of the diamond lapping films from Lee Valley, and a cheapo honing guide... may upgrade that at some point to something that can hold short blades as well. So glad I finally figured out a setup that can go from new rough blades to super sharp in a reasonable amount of time, without needing a big power sharpener.

I am also suffering from this problem. Every spare penny I have at the moment seems to go on tools. And good ones are not cheap. I just justify each purchase with the classic "it's an investment, it will last a lifetime" etc etc.

My favorites at the moment are my Lie Nielsen hand planes. I have the low angle block and a No. 4 1/2. Excellent tools. A real pleasure to use. Starting to wish I had something a bit bigger for jointing though. The no. 7 has caught my eye.. Unfortunately, it's about a million pounds. Good job I don't have a credit card. Although it would be an investment..

That's good. Made me laugh.

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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

card scrapers! what´s not to like about them?

of course, when i get my hands an restore a vintage spiers infill plane, then i´ll sit on top of tool acquisition nirvana. or something.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

Right now I'd have to say my drum sander and my router. Next week...

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Brad

I also share a passion for tools; they are a great "investment." I'd have to say that my drum sander is my favorite tool (it's saved me a lot of aggravation), but I'm not sure it would be fair to compare hand tools and power tools, it would be like comparing Canadian and American hockey players.

Dial calipers...........!!!

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

This little beauty...

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Right now I am particularily enamoured with my Carruth Ultimate Scraper.

Mike

Toss up between the LN adjustable mouth block plane, herdim hand cut rasps and the Blue Spruce parings chisels.

The chisels are the most fun, and have the nicest balance, but don't necessarily get used as frequently as the plane or rasps.

Stephen Boone finger plane!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

My brain… but it seems the older it gets, the more maintenance is required to keep it sharp.

Joe

And them's some pretty fancy pencil sharpeners too!

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

My Incra Precision Ruler.

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David Morris

Axis and Allies...

Going from China to Japan on the calipers was a nice upgrade.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

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Pat

I like the little Ibex planes too - I have a couple of them and do most of my brace shaping with them.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

for that job i actually prefer the lie nielsen model maker´s plane. it just fits my hand nicely, and handle makes it more stable IMO. to each it´s own, i suppose.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

That plane looks gorgeous! I might have to try and make something like that.

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

That's mine as well.

The day after I received my lie-nielsen low angle block plane, I dropped it on a concert floor and bent the spinwheel. So I called them to see if I could order a new one. Apparently dropping it on concert is covered in the warranty and a new one was sent free of charge.

Don't make one! Buy one from Stephen, a member here. The blade is the most expensive part, and it's a doozy! Comes ready to use, and holds an edge forever. $45 each or 2 for $80. Has a flat bottom one and the one I pictured. http://studioboone.com. Click on the Guitars link then the hand made planes link. Since I bought mine, I have not touched my little IBEX finger plane. You can even modify the slope of the sides at the base, if you want, to accommodate your style of brace shaping. It does not groove your top when properly beveled.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

The internet.

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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from poor judgement.

Currently my fav tool is my lathe. understandably not the most necessary luthierin' tool but top of my list all the same.

Here are some shots making some 30's retro bridge pins (on my 30's lathe!)



Also allowed me to modify a set of Waverlies to embed (and make the buttons):


and then, of course, cover.

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Burton
http://www.legeytinstruments.com
Brookline, MA.

This one right here!!! Bada-BING!!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC