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I'm planning out my first build now, and I'm also starting to collect some tools. So, what tool saves you the most time, can be used throughout most of the build and is just all around the biggest lifesaver?

Bandsaw...Mike

I have a few essential tools that are enough (or close to) to build a guitar:

-Jack plane which I use for both jointing and plate thinning (Veritas low angle)
-chisel (about 1/2")
-Japanese saw for everything cutting including fret kerfs (Z-saw with woodpecker tip)
-binding cutter, which is also transformable into a hole cutter for the soundhole and rosette inlaying
-1mm scraper
-precision steel ruler
-a fine rasp
-caliper
-quality try square

Other tools I use but many of them un-essential are a low angle block plane, old smoother wooden plane, a couple smaller chisels (2 and 6mm), a set of fine small files, a finer smaller Japanese saw, a Hacklinger gauge, a thickness gauge, knife, hammer, larger saw
And then some needed misc like bunch of clamps and some good hardwood for the various fixtures.

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Build log

My CNC - I use it as a jointer, planer/thicknesser, for inlay work, making jigs, carving necks, rosette's, braces, and pretty much anything else you'd expect.

It is not the cheapest tool, but it is definitely the most versatile!

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Glue

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

thats a tough one. i might say may little performax 10-20 drum sander.

i couldnt live without a table saw though.

as far as hand tools id say a good sharp chisel is a must.

edit: to expound on the above. i dont think there was a single piece of wood that wasnt ran through my drum sander on my first build. literally.

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sweat the small stuff.

Band saw and thickness sander are my most used but all my toolsl have their jobs, Buy good tools even if you can't afford them they will be with you a long time the cheap ones don't last and often will not do a good job.

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Fred hits it in my opinion , buy the best tools you can afford. For me my belt sander in my most used tool. When buying tools don't pass up affordable used tools. I have 2 bandsaws. One is a Walker Turner from 1963 and it is a great tool. Flea markets are great places to find equipment.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I'm starting in lutherie, too... And I'm always buying the best quality of tool I can find. Something it's better to wait 1 week or 2 (payday...) to put a few more dollars on a tool. Good tools make a HUGE difference (and the way you sharp and correct them). And, my point of view is that If you take care of them, your tools will last all your career, and more, so, it's a good investment.

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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I definitely would second what John said regarding good used tools. If you are mechanically inclined, i.e.; could spot trouble and/or do a little repair work, the used tool market often will save you 75% over the cost of a new tool, and not infrequently with a better quality tool that is produced today. One thing older tools will often not have, however, is the safety features of newer tools. My old Crescent Machine Co. jointer was designed to eat people, so I've worked to find the trouble spots and remedy that, but for the $400 I paid for it, I'd have to spend 5-6 times that to get a 12 inch jointer in the new tool market.

Darrin

I guess it would depend on your long term goals. If your goal is to build instruments to sell and you wish to excel at it, buy the best tools you can afford. If you don't mind spending time refurbishing tools, buy used. Good ones are more affordable that way, but you end up putting your $$$ in your own labor.
Have a goal in mind...a tool plan. Don't make snap decisions, and don't let catalogs or "sales" get the best of you. I used to try to buy one major power tool each year.
Smaller power tools used a lot are routers from Dremels to laminate trimmers to plunge routers, drills, and D/A sanders. A couple of VG straight edges are useful as are combination squares (Starrett's are good), and a small 6" square.
Most used tools I have are 14" bandsaw and 6 X 89 sander. A radial drill press is used a lot, but no one makes an excellent one. If you are going to make flat top instruments a thickness sander and calipers are a must.
If you are just going to make yourself a few guitars (HAH!), I guess I would be still looking at some sort of bandsaw and maybe a combination belt/disc, a good hand plane or two, and some fine chisels...and don' forget the straight edges and squares...

I guess I might have to say the computer and internet access. It allows me access to a world of information, advice, and help that otherwise I would never know exists! Now if your uncle happens to be a world class builder maybe your priorities would be different.

Joe

Lots of good tool suggestions here. One I don't see mentioned here yet is the humble card scraper, it is probably the most frequently used tool in my shop. I love the fact that it does not produce dust, and it is so versatile. When I don't use it to scrape bindings or prepare a gluing surface or some such, I can use it knock off glue globs on my work bench. It will also clean you finger nails!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Can I play devils advocate here I'm on long term sick so money is always tight I buy what I would term cheap but not dirt cheap and yes I have had to true up soles on planes clean up old second hand ones my cheap chisels all say chrome vanadium and hold an edge as good as some old second hand ones I'd say the most valuable tool is a little thumb plane for brace shaping it makes the job much quicker and neater too, but the most valuable skill is learning to learn to get a plane in 100% condition ie flattening the sole and sharpening the blade Todd did a good scary sharp demo on youtube and that's mainly how I do things I also have a small fallkniven DC3 shaprening ston invaluable for a quick touch up chisels and planes in fact that's more useful than my thumb planes.

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

Lies!

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Build log

Fillipo And Rod have got this one pegged.There`s not a tool in the shop that can do more for you than your hands and your brains.What we need to do is come up with a consensus of the most useful and neccesary tools to help folks out that are just starting.Like a scraper for example.Oops Arnt said that.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I would say essential power tools would be Bandsaw, Router, Table saw, Drill press and hand drill motor and a sanding station. You should be able to build the a lot of the other stuff needed with those basics for power tools or adapt them for other jobs. But there are all the other hand tools too.

I'm in the chisel and caliper camp, too.

Easy, the most important and endangered tool in the world - the credit card.

Then sanding dishes, bandsaw, router(s) and table, drill press, drum sander, chisels, #5 jack plane, instrument maker plane, caliper/feeler gauges, clamps, rasp/files, scraper, razorblades, xacto knife, mechanical pencils, a good shop vac and lots of sandpaper.

Also very nice to have: More routers, table saw, a plumbed dust collector, a vacuum clamping system, a flat granite plate, air compressor, combination disc/belt sander, a cnc machine and an understanding spouse.


Bob