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Woodworking? Eventually want to build a guitar.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 1:28 pm
Posted on 10/13/18 at 1:28 pm
I have basic tools. Very basic. Only power tool is a miter saw.
Obviously my shop needs work. But, I don’t want a garage that I can’t park cars in so massive drill presses, planer/jointers, and table saws are out. Looking for things that will be able to be placed on a bench and portable.
Obviously my shop needs work. But, I don’t want a garage that I can’t park cars in so massive drill presses, planer/jointers, and table saws are out. Looking for things that will be able to be placed on a bench and portable.
8
Posted on 10/13/18 at 1:39 pm to LSU alum wannabe
Well, to get into wood work, you better think about building a shop. Everything needs room when it comes to wood working. 
Posted on 10/13/18 at 2:12 pm to fishfighter
What fish said unless you want to try to learn working with only hand tools.
I have both. The hand tools are a lot of fun but much harder and takes much longer on a project.
I have both. The hand tools are a lot of fun but much harder and takes much longer on a project.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 3:07 pm to bbvdd
My garage has one large counter and work surface covered with stainless. It needs reorganization but there is room for benchtop drill, a vice, another saw.
With guitars every piece of material is small unless you are cutting your own boards from raw materials. Meaning cutting your own neck or making your own cuts of backs and sides off of raw materials.
With guitars every piece of material is small unless you are cutting your own boards from raw materials. Meaning cutting your own neck or making your own cuts of backs and sides off of raw materials.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 3:12 pm to fishfighter
quote:
Well, to get into wood work, you better think about building a shop. Everything needs room when it comes to wood working.
And shhhhh, let's not tell him about the dust and shavings, even with a decent vacuum system.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 4:16 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
have basic tools. Very basic. Only power tool is a miter saw. Obviously my shop needs work. But, I don’t want a garage that I can’t park cars in so massive drill presses, planer/jointers, and table saws are out. Looking for things that will be able to be placed on a bench and portable.
Guitars and other stringed instruments have been built without power tools for a couple hundred years, there is not much time advantage in using power tools to build one or even a few guitars, things like neck blanks can be cut from raw stock with a hand saw in a few minutes, if its going to be a hobby project why get in a hurry . You are going to need various planes, a non-electric hand drill, lots of clamps, and quite a few specialty tools like a fret saw.
This post was edited on 10/13/18 at 4:20 pm
Posted on 10/13/18 at 4:20 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
With guitars every piece of material is small unless you are cutting your own boards from raw materials. Meaning cutting your own neck or making your own cuts of backs and sides off of raw materials.
With woodworking, smaller is often harder. Never say never, but a guitar is a very aggressive project for someone just starting out. Get on youtube and it may help you figure out if this is something you want to do.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 4:41 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
Not to mention what everyone else has said regarding tools, guitars have other challenges minus the body and neck.
If I were you I’d buy one of the guitar kits and put one together before trying to form one from scratch.
If I were you I’d buy one of the guitar kits and put one together before trying to form one from scratch.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 5:02 pm to jamboybarry
quote:
Not to mention what everyone else has said regarding tools, guitars have other challenges minus the body and neck. If I were you I’d buy one of the guitar kits and put one together before trying to form one from scratch.
Plus, check out some u-tube videos on building a guitar by first rate luthiers and it takes a lot of jigs, very fine detail work and extreme precision to make a decent instrument.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 7:38 pm to LSU alum wannabe
Get a bandsaw. Small footprint and it can do all of the critical cutting for building guitars. A decent one (like the Laguna 14/12) can even cut super thin veneers.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 7:41 pm to LSU alum wannabe
Electric or acousic? i think it's a pretty important question that hasn't been answered yet. I'd say for your first you should do an electric. Much simpler and you can use premium parts and pickups.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 8:00 pm to bapple
quote:
i think it's a pretty important question that hasn't been answered yet. I'd say for your first you should do an electric.
Acoustic. I have 2 electrics, acoustics could be an addiction.
Posted on 10/13/18 at 8:04 pm to stickly
quote:
A decent one (like the Laguna 14/12) can even cut super thin veneers.
1100 bucks new and I just don't have the room. There HAS to be some decent counter top band saws? They'd at least be serviceable and more efficient than a hand saw (coping).
Posted on 10/13/18 at 8:31 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
I have 2 electrics, acoustics could be an addiction.
I lean to the former but best of luck!
I think a nice clean tone with some reverb is one of the most beautiful guitar sounds out there. But if you can build an acoustic you'll have my respect!
Posted on 10/13/18 at 9:34 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
1100 bucks new and I just don't have the room. There HAS to be some decent counter top band saws? They'd at least be serviceable and more efficient than a hand saw (coping).
There is not a decent table top band saw on the market.
If you want to try your hand at guitars you will either need a good band saw or buy the parts for the sides. If I’m not mistaken the sides are several thin pieces ripped and glued up in a bending jig.
A band saw, like has been mentioned has a very small footprint. It’s one tool that I’d have a hard time being without. It’s probably my most used power tool
Posted on 10/13/18 at 9:59 pm to bbvdd
Making those thin veneers will also require a drum sander. Or some well tuned hand planes and skill
Posted on 10/14/18 at 7:26 am to Chuckd
quote:
Making those thin veneers will also require a drum sander. Or some well tuned hand planes and skill
This and of course a steam box and a shite load of clamps.
Posted on 10/14/18 at 7:52 am to LSU alum wannabe
Do you want it to sound like a Martin/Gibson quality, or Harmony/Silvertone type sound?
If your answer is Martin/ Gibson, you're going to need a good shop and equipment, and some hellacious patience and determination.
First step is just trying with what you have though, and when you want to do better, you will naturally get better tools, or give up.One or the other.
Good luck man, I mean it, there aint nothing better in this world than a damn good guitar.
If your answer is Martin/ Gibson, you're going to need a good shop and equipment, and some hellacious patience and determination.
First step is just trying with what you have though, and when you want to do better, you will naturally get better tools, or give up.One or the other.
Good luck man, I mean it, there aint nothing better in this world than a damn good guitar.
Posted on 10/14/18 at 8:09 am to LSU alum wannabe
With all due respect man your idea is basically like saying you have a basketball goal in your driveway and want to play in the nba.
I mean it’s not that easy, pure and simple. There’s professionals with 4000 sq ft wood working shops and building something like a guitar would still be difficult, time consuming, and take a lot of skill learned from 1000s of hours of practice.
As said you can likely buy a kit with all the pieces already cut that would take minimal additional tools to craft into a working guitar. I wouldnt expect it to sound great though.
I mean it’s not that easy, pure and simple. There’s professionals with 4000 sq ft wood working shops and building something like a guitar would still be difficult, time consuming, and take a lot of skill learned from 1000s of hours of practice.
As said you can likely buy a kit with all the pieces already cut that would take minimal additional tools to craft into a working guitar. I wouldnt expect it to sound great though.
Posted on 10/14/18 at 8:54 am to baldona
The most sensible plan IS the already mentioned kits. They will come with plans and pre made pieces that can be used to make molds and forms.
Again an $1100 band saw is just not feasible with my garage space and not sensible for a beginning hobby. Going with another sports metaphor, that’s like picking up golf and running down and buying a $1700 set of Ping or Callaway irons.
Honestly the entire thing can be done with hand tools. It increases the difficulty but a hand coping saw can cut the rough top and back out and you chisel or sand the rest.
Again an $1100 band saw is just not feasible with my garage space and not sensible for a beginning hobby. Going with another sports metaphor, that’s like picking up golf and running down and buying a $1700 set of Ping or Callaway irons.
Honestly the entire thing can be done with hand tools. It increases the difficulty but a hand coping saw can cut the rough top and back out and you chisel or sand the rest.
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