Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

I use lazy Susans too, but not being as tricky as Taffy, I just buy a $20 lazy Susan bearing at a hardware store or on Amazon. I have a few and use the 12" size. Takes maybe half an hour to make a useable unit out of a couple of pieces of plywood. My main use is to hold go-bar decks for easy glue cl...

O.K. Makes sense.-Bob

Thanks. I was thinking maybe a little set screw, but that means going to look for the Allen wrench to change files. I'll try the shim fit.-Bob

Those files are indeed expensive, but they are worth it. I have several different sets of files, and in truth no set works for every occasion. The Nomad files are very good. I like the Nomad files better because you don't need to worry about them binding. When I use my Japanese files, I plunge them ...

Here is my unpopular take on the health of lutherie in general. In the 1980's I first began to notice an uptick in builders here in Hawaii. Mostly ukes, but still lutherie. I work at home now, but back then I had a shop in town in Hilo, Hawaii. Since I already had the contacts with various industry ...

In general, quality dovetail neck guitars are not difficult to do neck resets on. The dovetail, done right, is easy to take apart. The repair person does need to have neck reset and finish touch up experience, but not necessarily loads of it. It ain't rocket science. Good luck!-Bob

For what it's worth, we have the same issue here in the U.S. I can't send anything out of the U.S. valued at over $2500 ( may be $2000 can't remember) without paying a customs broker about $75.00 to do the paperwork. Customs won't let me do it myself. Under valuing has usually been the work around, ...

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On the Nomad nut files, I understand that specialty tools are not for the casual users. I did get my set of Nomad files for acoustic guitar today. It will also work for ukes. Nylon strings are pretty forgiving. I used them today on a bone guitar nut and a micarta nut for a 6 string uke. I don't know...

Taff, That's a cool way to put a handle on those SM files. I'll steal that idea. They will now be called Taff Files, instead of SM files.My inniial search for the diamond files on Amazon only turned up a large set that went from electric guitar to bass and was $270 or so. Since then I've found that ...

That excuse would never work. My wife would not let me use them!

I have a couple of sets of those too. Work, but are pretty slow and bind like crazy in bone, even when I wax them. They work great in Micarta. Just curious about the diamond ones. Unfortunately I know how this story ends. I'll probably have to buy the diamond ones!

Anyone bought the pricey Music Nomad diamond nut slot files with the plastic handles? I have a dozen or so totally worn out nut files and it is time to bite the bullet and get new ones. I have tried every type of file that the lutherie suppliers sell. They all work, but I really don't think any of t...

With the crush of CNC and laser technology in lutherie today, what makes a handmade guitar is a question that has as many answers as there are makers. The poster here mentioned that they prefer everything to be custom except for tuners, strings, and strap buttons. Strap buttons would be pretty easy ...

One thing I can say about USPS is that they have never lost anything of mine. Things eventually do arrive, but sometimes the trip is long. I sent a package to Japan and it went to Israel first. Recently I sent a package to the other side of my island, and it went to Guam first. A package was mailed ...

Awhile back I got some Ancient Kauri/Swamp Kauri for back and sides of a uke. I paired it with a NZ modern Kaurie top that was gifted to me by a NZ friend. Actually turns out Kaurie grows quite well in Hawaii, and there are ornamental plantings with trees easily large enough to get quartered guitar ...