I have not posted on the forum before - so I hope this is within the rules !!
I recently did a luthiery course with Sergei de Jong in Canada, and have well and truely caught the bug. I have been setting up a TINY workshop at home ( nothing like the flash shops I have seen on this forum ) and have recently started my first "solo" effort guitar.
At this point I cannot justify spending the money to purchase all of the "would be nice" tools - one of these being a thickness sander. My two questions are :
1. Are there any Auckland luthiers out there that could help me out with access to a machine, or could direct me to a joinery shop that may have a machine. I have tried a number of joinery shops, but very few have thickness sanders, and those that do have big machines which are not appropriate for the job at hand. ( thicknessing back, top and sides )
2. If I cannot get access to a machine - is it possible to thickness the top, back and sides with an orbital sander - or am I setting myself up for failure. I am worried about getting a consistent thickness doing it this way.
Any advise greatly appreciated - and by the way - what a GREAT forum.
Calling Auckland luthiers - and two ? about thicknessing
Hi Dave
Welcome to the forum
!
I'm not in you're part of the world so I can't help with any pointers to joinery shops etc!
I currently thickness my tops, backs and sides by hand using a No.4 Hand plane! I know it takes a little while to get where you want to go but you are very much in control and you get a feel for the wood you are using! Hand tools form most of my tool kit and I can build from start to finish with out using power tools - I'm not trying to shout about my abilities but too show you that you can acomplish a lot without the need for expensive machines
You can get plenty of hand planes second hand off somewhere like Ebay or buy them new the only thing I would say is buy a good quality make (Record, Stanley etc..).
If you don't feel confident using hand tools you could build yourself a Drum sander. I'm currently building a 20" sander and all the parts new have cost me around £70 (AUS$ 155) including the motor again all purchased from Ebay!
If none of the above rocks yer boat then I know someone on the forum will be within travelling distance and will help you out with sanding!
Again welcome and hope you're Solo guitar goes well
Welcome to the forum
!I'm not in you're part of the world so I can't help with any pointers to joinery shops etc!
I currently thickness my tops, backs and sides by hand using a No.4 Hand plane! I know it takes a little while to get where you want to go but you are very much in control and you get a feel for the wood you are using! Hand tools form most of my tool kit and I can build from start to finish with out using power tools - I'm not trying to shout about my abilities but too show you that you can acomplish a lot without the need for expensive machines
You can get plenty of hand planes second hand off somewhere like Ebay or buy them new the only thing I would say is buy a good quality make (Record, Stanley etc..).
If you don't feel confident using hand tools you could build yourself a Drum sander. I'm currently building a 20" sander and all the parts new have cost me around £70 (AUS$ 155) including the motor again all purchased from Ebay!
If none of the above rocks yer boat then I know someone on the forum will be within travelling distance and will help you out with sanding!
Again welcome and hope you're Solo guitar goes well
-
Paul B
-
sebastiaan56
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:23 am
- Location: Blue Mountains
Hi Dave and welcome to the forum,
I use a Wagner Safe-T-Planer for thicknessing. Works a treat! Robbie OBrien did a demo video on this very forum http://www.mcguitars.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=885 you could also check out the Stewmac tips on it here http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Plane ... ml#details
The finish is good enough that a hand sander is all that is required to great a great surface,
When were you in Canada? Im related to Serge and remember him 30years ago when he was getting going. A very passionate and dedicated man.
Sebastiaan
I use a Wagner Safe-T-Planer for thicknessing. Works a treat! Robbie OBrien did a demo video on this very forum http://www.mcguitars.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=885 you could also check out the Stewmac tips on it here http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Plane ... ml#details
The finish is good enough that a hand sander is all that is required to great a great surface,
When were you in Canada? Im related to Serge and remember him 30years ago when he was getting going. A very passionate and dedicated man.
Sebastiaan
make mine fifths........
-
Taffy Evans
- Blackwood
- Posts: 1067
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:54 pm
- Location: Charters Towers North Queensland
Hi Dave
Welcome to the Forum
I agree with some of the above, you do not have to have the nice new machinery shown in some workshops to be able to build nice guitars. As I have proberbly mentioned before on the forum most of the machines I started out with were home built, some a bit scary, from ideas gained from publications and many books. I have updated them all now, over the years.
I used these old machines for 10-15 years. The old thickness sander worked a treat. I could shape braces and pegheads on it too, can't do that with my new auto feed model. I'd show a picture but it was before digital photography.
I still have the drum, motor and the steel table, can't bare to throw anything away.
Welcome to the Forum
I agree with some of the above, you do not have to have the nice new machinery shown in some workshops to be able to build nice guitars. As I have proberbly mentioned before on the forum most of the machines I started out with were home built, some a bit scary, from ideas gained from publications and many books. I have updated them all now, over the years.
I used these old machines for 10-15 years. The old thickness sander worked a treat. I could shape braces and pegheads on it too, can't do that with my new auto feed model. I'd show a picture but it was before digital photography.
I still have the drum, motor and the steel table, can't bare to throw anything away.
Taff
A very warm welcome to the forum Dave.
I didn't have any of the machinery that I have now for the first 1/2 dozen builds. The first couple I bought wood that was thickness sanded to a close enough spec, that I built with it the way it came.
Then I joined the local woodworkers club, and they had a drum sander that I used constantly until I finally got my own. It would be worth while to check around and see if there is a local club in Auckland. It's a big enough place that there is bound to be.
Then there is the old Safety Planer as has been mentioned. It's going to require a drill press to run it, but they're not all that expensive, and you'll end up wanting one for all kinds of tasks anyway.
But if you find the local woodworkers club, they would have one of these as well.
Keep us up to date on how your project progresses.
I didn't have any of the machinery that I have now for the first 1/2 dozen builds. The first couple I bought wood that was thickness sanded to a close enough spec, that I built with it the way it came.
Then I joined the local woodworkers club, and they had a drum sander that I used constantly until I finally got my own. It would be worth while to check around and see if there is a local club in Auckland. It's a big enough place that there is bound to be.
Then there is the old Safety Planer as has been mentioned. It's going to require a drill press to run it, but they're not all that expensive, and you'll end up wanting one for all kinds of tasks anyway.
But if you find the local woodworkers club, they would have one of these as well.
Keep us up to date on how your project progresses.
Hi Dave and welcome to the forum,
Ive made do without a thickness sander since starting out in luthiery in 2004. I thickness my tops by hand...I start with a smoothing plane and finish of with cabinet scrapers. It requires a bit of sweat but it doesnt take that long to work a top down to final thickness. For back and side sets with difficult grain I use a scraper plane.
Cheers Martin
Ive made do without a thickness sander since starting out in luthiery in 2004. I thickness my tops by hand...I start with a smoothing plane and finish of with cabinet scrapers. It requires a bit of sweat but it doesnt take that long to work a top down to final thickness. For back and side sets with difficult grain I use a scraper plane.
Cheers Martin
Hi Dave and Welcome to the Forum,
I'm also a newbie and have only built 1 guitar and a uke. I used a sander to thickness sides, back and soundboard to near enough then finished with a sanding board. Lots of work and time consuming but it works just as well. I have ordered myself a drum sander as I think I've got the bug to stay and although the time is not a factor with hand sanding, the work certainly is for me. You can also use a handplane and then finish with a sanding board. You're right, this is a great forum. Much learning happening. Good luck.
I'm also a newbie and have only built 1 guitar and a uke. I used a sander to thickness sides, back and soundboard to near enough then finished with a sanding board. Lots of work and time consuming but it works just as well. I have ordered myself a drum sander as I think I've got the bug to stay and although the time is not a factor with hand sanding, the work certainly is for me. You can also use a handplane and then finish with a sanding board. You're right, this is a great forum. Much learning happening. Good luck.
Welcome to the madness. The guys are right. Machinery would be nice, but it isn't necessary. I've thicknessed my first one with an old Stanely Bailey #5 and card scrapers. Get a few of them and sharpen them all at once. They dull rather quickly. I have a #3 on its way to augment the stable. Would have preferred a #4, but the price was right for this one. Make sure you know how to sharpen a blade before you attack your wood though. You will not be a happy camper using a dull blade.
Thanks very much for all of your good advice - and for the welcomes to the forum.
It sounds like doing it by hand may be a real possibility. I do have a good #4 plane and some good cabinet scrapers. I will also try to find a local woodworkers club and see what they have available.
For Sebastian - I was in Canada in September. Yep - Serge is a pretty amazing man and a fantastic teacher - and after 40 odd years of making guitars he has an instinct and eye for detail that is amazing. To see the various instruments around his shop, in varying states of construction, was a real inspiration to me. His family all make guitars too, and his 15 year old son has made some really beautiful instruments. I would certainly recommend his course to anyone wanting to get started in this game.
Once again - thanks to everyone for all the good advice.
It sounds like doing it by hand may be a real possibility. I do have a good #4 plane and some good cabinet scrapers. I will also try to find a local woodworkers club and see what they have available.
For Sebastian - I was in Canada in September. Yep - Serge is a pretty amazing man and a fantastic teacher - and after 40 odd years of making guitars he has an instinct and eye for detail that is amazing. To see the various instruments around his shop, in varying states of construction, was a real inspiration to me. His family all make guitars too, and his 15 year old son has made some really beautiful instruments. I would certainly recommend his course to anyone wanting to get started in this game.
Once again - thanks to everyone for all the good advice.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Blackstar1099 and 202 guests