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 Post subject: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:48 pm 
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Walnut
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Location: Wonder Lake, Il
Focus: Repair
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What kind of homemade tools have you made? I did a notched straightedge and some string spreaders recently. If you've got pics I'd love to see them. Might be nice to share some ideas as, we all know tools can get expensive. Thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:40 pm 
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Location: London, England
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Last one I made was a fret bender: scrap of wood, washers, bolts, and these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-Replacement-Shower-Door-ROLLERS-Runners-Wheels-V-Grooved-19mm-Dia-LW19-/281049030019?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bathroom_Shower_Units_PP&hash=item416fd3dd83.
Works well.


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 6:01 pm 
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Walnut
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A must see. Homemadetools.net. . Click on "new tools", and just go page by page . AWESOME!!!!!



These users thanked the author landrover for the post (total 2): homemadetools (Mon Aug 31, 2015 9:51 pm) • Michael Lloyd (Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:31 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 8:10 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:08 pm
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Location: Missouri
First name: Patrick
Last Name: Hanna
State: Missouri
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Lots of home made tools here. Made a new one today, but that was for a little shotgun work. I suspect your inquiry goes more to luthiery tools. Okay, here's a start. Arch top carving planes. I admire you for making a notched straight edge. I'm not sure I would attempt such a thing.

Patrick


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 12:23 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:50 pm
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First name: Steve
Last Name: Curtis
City: Mangrove Mountain
State: N.S.W
Zip/Postal Code: 2250
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
landrover wrote:
A must see. Homemadetools.net. . Click on "new tools", and just go page by page . AWESOME!!!!!


Thanks for the link Landy, never seen this site before.

Steve


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:04 pm 
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Location: Albany NY
First name: David
Last Name: LaPlante
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Over the years I've made a number of tools (mostly because they weren't available at the time) including a thicknessing sander, bridge pin reamer, router templates and modifying Sears router bits to accept guide bearings.
All of these tools required access to a machine lathe and milling machine (which i had before I retired). Now fortunately, all of this stuff is available from folks like Stew Mac but there was once a time when one's ability to do this work depended on making one's own tools.
These days my favorite homemade tool (not made by me but a luthier friend in London) is this little plane (the larger of the two in the back):
Attachment:
Brace tools.jpg


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 2:20 pm 
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Koa
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Location: UK
I like simple. I like cheap. In the manner of the popsicle stick I came up with these purfling cutters (now with cotton wrapping):

Image

They work just like the popsicle rosette cutter, which is to say that they work extremely well. Just like the popsicle rosette cutter, gone are the days of moving a touch forward, a touch back, no. . . just a bit more. . . almost. . . just a hairs. . .



These users thanked the author Michael.N. for the post: Beth Mayer (Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:36 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 2:24 pm 
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Location: Albany NY
First name: David
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"I like simple. I like cheap".

I agree Michael, one's tools should never be nicer than what one builds with them.


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:01 pm 
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landrover wrote:
A must see. Homemadetools.net. . Click on "new tools", and just go page by page . AWESOME!!!!!


While at homemadetools.net also do a search for Frank Ford, he's got 104 different posts there... ;)

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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:33 pm 
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First name: Beth
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Nick Royle wrote:


Hey Nick...could we see a picture of the one you made?

I made a drill bit that had a small aluminum tube extension to allow drilling classical/uke string holes in an already-glued on bridge (ask me why I needed one wow7-eyes ). Todd told me how to do it. I'll try to remember to upload a picture of it when I'm home.
One of the most used homemade "tools" I've made is a couple of bench hooks. A small one allows jointing and trimming of things like the bridge blank. The largest (again made under the virtual guidance of Todd) used to joint back, side, and top plates. Maybe those are more "jig" than "tool".


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:44 am 
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I have plenty of home made tools, as I bet most folks who have been at this craft for a while do. Mine are mostly copied or at least inspired by ones I have seen on the net, in books or various publications over the years. Here's one I have seen in numerous configurations, I made mine from some plywood, an ancient plane iron, a couple of bolts and a few bits of hardwood. I'm strictly in the form-follows-function camp... ;)

Image

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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:52 am 
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Location: Glen Burnie Md.
First name: steve
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Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Making your own tools and jigs is a great way for us hobby builders to save some bucks or at least allow us to spend more on materials. Some things just seem to make more sense to buy when you consider set up time and cost, a radius dish comes to mind here. While other things just seem to be easy enough to make or cost enough to buy to make it sensible to try to make. Outside molds, bending forms come to mind here. A couple of other things that seemed reasonable to make are a circle cutting jig for a router.
Attachment:
image.jpg

And for me a drum sander was pricey enough to urge me to make my own.
Attachment:
image.jpg


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:52 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:21 am
Posts: 149
Location: Wales U.K.
First name: Anthony
Last Name: Lee
Country: Wales U.K.
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Derek Cohen is a master at making his own tools. http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/index.html


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:06 pm 
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Filippo, that fret buck was exactly what I thought of when I read your comment about tools looking nice. Every time you post pictures of your setups, (like the neat, clean and organized drawers of tools) I salivate over them! I aspire to your aesthetic. Thanks for all the pics. I'm not sure what the table with the router pad and T tracks on it and the two hardwood pieces suspended over it, is? (maybe to route the center strip on the back?)
Nice tools in general, guys. This is a great thread.


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:22 pm 
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Filippo Morelli wrote:
Beth,

For routing electrics ...

Filippo

Image


How cool is that!!? Thanks, Filippo.


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:43 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:39 pm
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First name: Anthony
Last Name: Eaton
City: Lamoine
State: ME
Zip/Postal Code: 04605
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Here are just a few tools I've made. I have a few more I've taken pics of but haven't gotten around to resizing them. The moulding planes are not luthier tools but a woodworking tool none the less. Actually there is a paid of moulding planes I've made but for some reason only have a pic of the one. They were the most difficult tool I've made to date but thanks to Larry William's great DVD it was doable for me.

This is a great thread and hope i gets a lot of action. I am also in the camp of function over form but if you're taking the time to make a tool that will be with you for a while then why not make it as beautiful and as careful as you can achieve. A good looking and feeling tool is a joy to use that will continue to inspire you to do good work while using it.


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:02 pm 
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Koa
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Tools eh...

well here be a few (me not gonna show you all) laughing6-hehe

Image

Image

Image

In fact...me whole shop is one big homemade tool...is true...go here

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=25595


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duh ?adma

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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:39 pm 
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Koa
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My most useful self-made tools are chisels and knives. I made cutting tools long before I made guitars. When I started out, Alexander Weygers was my idol. His books are still the best introduction to tool-making that I know of. Try this: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Modern-Blacksmith-Alexander-Weygers/dp/0898158966



These users thanked the author Eric Reid for the post: Michael Lloyd (Thu Sep 12, 2013 11:49 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:06 am 
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Man, I trained as a tool maker and have been doing luthier stuff since the 70's. I thought I'd post some of my useful handmade tools, but I'd look like a chump. Mine function well, but they aren't beautiful like what I see here.

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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:40 am 
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Don't worry, Chris, I'm about to lower the standard on display considerably!

Beth,
Sorry for the delay, here is the fret bender... Tis ugly as sin but it worked! :)

Bolts, wingnuts, washers, and these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-Replacement-Shower-Door-ROLLERS-Runners-Wheels-V-Grooved-19mm-Dia-LW19-/281049030019?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Bathroom_Shower_Units_PP&hash=item416fd3dd83.
(The right roller is secured in an elongated slot by a wingnut, and slides up and down to change the radius.)

Thinking about it now, maybe it's best to slide the washers up and down rather than the roller.


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:07 am 
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Great stuff here!

Filippo, the elegance of your tools has always blown me away.

I'm putting the final touches on a table saw sled fixture for cutting neck tenons, with an adjustable angle.

I also have a simple sled for cutting the taper on fretboards and vanilla jigs for rosettes and bridge slots.

Pat

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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 10:02 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I have some...

A router sled for planing large pieces of wood (such as a table top)... Note the spiderweb because I don't actually build that many tables... the shop isn't big enough.

Attachment:
1.jpg


My new workbench. There's nothing heavy enough in Taiwan, so I made my own out of discarded floor board.

Attachment:
2.jpg

Attachment:
3.jpg


A Wells Karol jig made from plexiglass, because I can't find UMHW and nobody knows what it is. It works well enough. Also below that: a bending iron. The wells karol jig is permanently attached to a router base so all I need to do is slide the motor in.

Attachment:
4.jpg


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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:23 am 
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That's a pretty excellent idea keeping the router base attached to the circle jig, Tai-Fu. I never thought of buying additional bases, I just bought more routers so I didn't have to attach jigs. Your way is much cheaper I would reckon.

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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:30 am 
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By the way that only works for certain models... sometimes you can't always buy bases for a given router. I use the Rexon/Jepson Taiwanese trimmers where the base sells for about 6 dollars a piece, vs. the machine itself (which is about 30 dollars), so it makes sense to dedicate bases rather than whole routers. However I do have a Dewalt Laminate trimmer that I can't find bases for... only places I found wants 50 dollars for it and I actually paid less on the laminate trimmer itself... but then again it was used/display model.

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 Post subject: Re: Homemade tools
PostPosted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 4:14 pm 
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Walnut
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Location: Wonder Lake, Il
Focus: Repair
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Here is the noticed straightedge I made. I use a drafting square cut down to 19" with the end removed. I leveled it with the leveling beam, cut the notches and file the smooth. It straight it's homemade and best, it was only $10.
Image
011 by Bohdan79, on Flickr


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