Search found 72 matches

by Richard
Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:28 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New workshop to be
Replies: 17
Views: 13674

Re: New workshop to be

I’m in the middle of a complete overhaul/rearranging of my workshop so I’m probably in a similar mindset to you. The main point I’d add is to be flexible and don’t overthink layout etc. too much. I’ve been in this space a bit over a year and I’ve gone through several iterations of the layout. Agreed...
by Richard
Tue Jun 12, 2018 9:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Flatbed jointer opinion
Replies: 15
Views: 18890

Re: Flatbed jointer opinion

demonx wrote:
Wed Jun 06, 2018 5:07 pm
With that said though, in guitar building I never use this up to the 6” capacity, so I’d never need an 8” for guitar building.
What's your method for correcting warp on boards wider than 6" -- I'd imagine this is pretty common for a typical two-piece electric blank?
by Richard
Wed Jun 06, 2018 12:11 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Flatbed jointer opinion
Replies: 15
Views: 18890

Re: Flatbed jointer opinion

I'm in the market for the same in the near future.

Tossing up between 150mm/6" and 200mm/8"... I suspect 150mm would do 99% of what I'd need it to do but there's always that temptation to go bigger for a little bit more.

The choice for me is probably between Carbatec or Laguna.
by Richard
Mon May 15, 2017 12:56 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27507

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

No issues at all bending the standard ladder braced back to fit the taper. No heat or pre-bending required... just clamp it as you work your way down from the tail to the headstock.
by Richard
Wed Aug 12, 2015 9:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: To mask or not??
Replies: 9
Views: 8907

Re: To mask or not??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNbsZsSabPs

This video from Stewmac convinced me of the virtues of just scraping.
by Richard
Sun Jun 21, 2015 2:22 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Carbatec Drum Sander
Replies: 35
Views: 38240

Re: Carbatec Drum Sander

I sold mine 5-6 years ago but I had this unit for a few years and always got good results. Never had any issues with changing the paper. Are you trying to weave the paper in and out of the cover around the drum? I've heard others in the past vent their frustration doing it this way. The way I always...
by Richard
Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:04 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Binding Jig discussion
Replies: 29
Views: 25610

Re: Binding Jig discussion

My deck is two 600x600x16mm MDF boards, 4 threaded rods and 16 bolts and washers. Grab your go-bar rods from John at Blues Creek because that will save you hassle with hobby shops and cutting the fibreglass to length, but save yourself the astronomical shipping costs (his website says the deck weigh...
by Richard
Sat Mar 07, 2015 12:58 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bandsaw upgrade
Replies: 44
Views: 42978

Re: Bandsaw upgrade

The solution I came up with, was this. The bearing is a standard size, so easily replaceable and the holding hex bolt is drilled and tapped off centre, so it works like a cam - the shaft can be rotated to adjust where on the bearing you want the blade to sit. hitachi_guides_4.jpg Mine (a Hare & For...
by Richard
Mon Dec 22, 2014 11:20 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bridge Pin reamer (3 Degree) - Where to buy cheap?
Replies: 11
Views: 13498

Re: Bridge Pin reamer (3 Degree) - Where to buy cheap?

The wooden handles on the LMI/Stewmac reamers are held on with a small steel pin that can easily be tapped out. Works fine in a drill then, and it's reversible should you want/need to go back to handheld. Not cheap but easily obtained if you're placing an order anytime soon. And great quality... I'v...
by Richard
Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:51 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Binding depth
Replies: 8
Views: 8371

Re: Binding depth

I too would be looking at side purfling to make up the height, though if we are talking 0.1mm, scraping/sanding of the top and back as you prepare for finishing should take care this difference no worries.
by Richard
Wed Jul 09, 2014 2:56 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: GuitarMaker.com - new website
Replies: 10
Views: 11161

Re: GuitarMaker.com - new website

Yep, if sales were to happen it'd have to be a fixed-length listing type arrangement where it's up to the luthier to renew their listing or create a new one if it doesn't sell. There's another site that offers just this (guitar-for-sale listings for luthiers), and it's had the exact same guitars lis...
by Richard
Thu Jul 03, 2014 2:35 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: GuitarMaker.com - new website
Replies: 10
Views: 11161

Re: GuitarMaker.com - new website

Good feedback Perry -- you were certainly someone I hoped would offer some thoughts. A lot of what you've said is what I was thinking about initially when developing the site. I'd say it's certainly not intended to be a magic solution but rather part of the mix for luthiers who are already doing the...
by Richard
Thu Jul 03, 2014 11:49 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: GuitarMaker.com - new website
Replies: 10
Views: 11161

GuitarMaker.com - new website

A bit of a brief background... my day job is in marketing and web development and for around 18 months I've been working on this concept of online marketing tools for luthiers. The final product is Guitar Maker -- essentially a place for luthiers to build a portfolio and showcase their instruments. ...
by Richard
Fri Jun 20, 2014 10:31 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What to charge?
Replies: 16
Views: 13744

Re: What to charge?

A good rule of thumb for doing work for mates is either do it for free, or charge full rate. That in-between part is where things get tricky because you both have different expectations. If you do it free then having them pay the cost of any parts/consumables is reasonable, and beer is of course to ...
by Richard
Thu May 15, 2014 9:53 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Frick what now???!!
Replies: 21
Views: 19650

Re: Frick what now???!!

Thankfully I got mine sorted quickly. The quote I got on the gear motor for the twin drum model was about $500, whereas the PC board was $76. I took a punt on it being the panel (the motor seemed ok with a multimeter) and headed out to Carbatec this afternoon to pick one up. It took about 5 minutes ...
by Richard
Tue May 06, 2014 5:54 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Frick what now???!!
Replies: 21
Views: 19650

Re: Frick what now???!!

My Carbatec 635mm twin drum sander's feed motor just died on the weekend -- haven't determined if it's the electronics or the motor yet, but good to know that a replacement gear motor on the smaller Performax is $340. I'm scared to ring Carbatec for prices now...
by Richard
Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:16 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Australia misses out on Mario's wood
Replies: 55
Views: 46329

Re: Australia misses out on Mario's wood

Never bought his wood though heard good things. A bit too much of a snake oil salesman vibe for my liking... even if it's all true. I don't think that replacement policy quite qualifies as "no questions asked"... one of the more interesting ones I've read. All in all I'm personally not too fussed if...
by Richard
Mon Sep 02, 2013 3:42 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bridge removal question
Replies: 5
Views: 5826

Re: Bridge removal question

I use a regular clothes iron, but otherwise as Allen suggested with the cardboard mask to protect the soundboard. Just place the iron on the bridge (possibly plane the bridge flat or make a flat surface with alfoil to maximise contact with the iron, or just rock the iron back and forth along the rad...
by Richard
Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:48 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Cole Clark repair
Replies: 35
Views: 48793

Re: Cole Clark repair

I read Cole Clark themselves disputed that $35 million profit figure... call it shoddy journalism more than anything else I think.
by Richard
Mon Aug 05, 2013 9:43 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Build log - Two sets of strings on a lap slide
Replies: 23
Views: 23868

Re: Build log - Two sets of strings on a lap slide

Ever vacuum clamp bridges? If you're setup for vacuum I'd be putting together a simple extra-wide bridge clamp so that you can locate and glue the bridge after the fretboard is in place.

Really intriguing design... keen to see this one come together!
by Richard
Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:19 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Back and top fitments - thinking outside the square
Replies: 3
Views: 4887

Re: Back and top fitments - thinking outside the square

This is one I picked up about 5 years ago from a luthier who was moving overseas. Never put it to use because I've only built one large body acoustic since then (and with a different bracing pattern), but I really like the idea and would definitely go down this route if I were batch producing. The l...
by Richard
Sun Jun 16, 2013 10:48 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Lutherie - the business.
Replies: 74
Views: 61352

Re: Lutherie - the business.

Great topic... really interesting to read over the past few days. I for one come from the school of thought that there is a living to be made in this field and it doesn't have to be minimum wage nor repair-oriented. Parts + labour (factored at what I'd expect to pay a quality employee to do the same...
by Richard
Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:30 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Anyone used vacuum jigs
Replies: 58
Views: 43932

Re: Anyone used vacuum jigs

The compressor vacuum (venturi) valve from LMI does work quite well. I used it for a dozen or so guitars when I first got into vacuum clamping. I was using a small cheap (Supercheap Auto) compressor to drive it; it ran almost constantly so I'd tend to set the bridge and run inside the house to get a...
by Richard
Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:00 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Weissenborn Lap Slide Style Scale length and plans
Replies: 7
Views: 9598

Re: Weissenborn Lap Slide Style Scale length and plans

I'm using a 25" scale. On mine I've shifted the nut from the headstock onto the top of the body but kept my soundhole in the same place. The end result is that my fretboards extend further over the soundhole so I generally lose a bit of room there. My fretboards are all cut such that they end neatly...
by Richard
Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:32 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Exporting to the USA
Replies: 20
Views: 17164

Re: Exporting to the USA

Was at my local PO this morning and saw a notice to the effect that all parcels entering the US will be subject to a special "security" fee. Yeah I saw that when I was in the post office the other day. $9 for packages over about 400 grams bound for the US. I guess this is related to the suspicious/...