Category Archives: tools

The Spanish Patron

1987
AL#9 p.52   BRB1 p.344            
William Conrad                                                                                           

▪ A Patron is the workboard used to build a guitar in the Spanish style. Conrad explains how to build one, and the reasoning behind it.

Arched Plate Copier

1987
AL#9 p.14   BRB1 p.312            
Steve Grimes                                                                                           

▪ Grimes’ pantograph for routing archtop plates is heavy duty and not real cheap if you have to job out the welding, but it accurately removes 90% of the excess wood. Several drawings accompany the detailed description.

Simple Carving Machine

1987
AL#9 p.18   BRB1 p.316            
Richard Ennis                                                                                           

▪ Ennis’ carving machine is not as straight forward in use as Grimes’, but its construction should be within the reach of most luthiers. A router mounted in a carriage rides over template rails to cut the contours into the plates of an archtop instrument.

Cutting Classic Head Slots

1987
AL#9 p.42   BRB1 p.336            
Richard Jordan                                                                                           

▪ Jordan’s article outlines all the steps he uses to shape a classical headstock. He cuts the slots with Dremel router, router base, and fence, and they come out very clean.

Conrad Color System

1986
AL#8 p.16               
William Conrad                                                                                           

▪ Conrad finds that spruce tops can be graded for density by the color of the light that shines through them, and uses a camera light meter to calibrate them.

Calculating Radii

1986
AL#8 p.48   BRB1 p.321            
Chris Foss                                                                                           

▪ Foss supplies a formula for calculating the radius of an arc from a known length and deflection. Ever try to make your own radiused jigs for guitar plates? It might help to know this formula. It might also scare you off.

The Paul Schuback Story

1987
AL#9 p.6   BRB1 p.304            read this article
Paul Schuback                                                                                           

▪ In this fascinating lecture from the 1986 GAL convention Schuback speaks of his apprenticeship to a French violin maker in 1962, then goes on to offer details about instrument construction, wood, and a Q&A session.

Violin Bridge Holder

1986
AL#7 p.54   BRB1 p.439            
Alan Carruth                                                                                           

▪ Carruth describes a fixture he uses to hold a violin bridge while it is being tuned. It will save your fingers and help prevent cracking the bridge.

More on Bridge Gluing

1986
AL#7 p.55   BRB1 p.431            
Robert Doucet                                                                                           

▪ Doucet offers slick tricks for removing dried glue from raw wood, replacing spruce pulled up by the bridge, tracing braces to make clamping cauls, and roughing saddle blanks into shape.

Bridge Regluing Caul

1986
AL#7 p.56   BRB1 p.181            
Sam Sherry                                                                                           

▪ Sherry claims his “bridge plate” style caul is a universal tool that makes bridge regluing easier.

Regluing Guitar Bridges

1986
AL#5 p.22   BRB1 p.168            
Ken Donnell                                                                                           

▪ Donnell gives a thorough description of his methods of bridge removal and regluing. Both classical and steel string guitars are covered.

Fret Slot Template Bar

1986
AL#5 p.42   BRB1 p.188            
Richard Ennis                                                                                           

▪ Ennis describes how to cut fret slots on a table saw using notches in a fixed bar as depth stops to regulate the fret spacing.

Drafting Instrument Plans

1985
AL#4 p.16   BRB1 p.108            read this article
Ted Davis                                                                                           

▪ In this lecture Davis describes his method of making instrument plans from a guitar, then fields questions and takes suggestions.

Bow Hair Jig

1985
AL#3 p.24   BRB1 p.88            read this article
Thomas Snyder                                                                                           

▪ Measured drawings are presented for building a jig to facilitate rehairing bows. A detailed method for using the jig is also presented.

One Way to Make Kerfed Lining

1985
AL#2 p.44               
Richard Ennis                                                                                           

▪ Ennis kerfs wide boards on the table saw, then rips them to twice the desired width. He then rips each of these at an angle with a bandsaw to produce (after they are sliced lengthwise) two lining strips.

Three Helpful Tools

1985
AL#2 p.54   BRB1 p.77            
Brian Mascarin                                                                                           

▪ They are: an archtop guitar brace jack, a modified 1/4″ phone plug to position an output jack, and a clear plastic square for scribing fret positions on a fretless bass.

Illuminating Instrument Repairs

1985
AL#1 p.50   BRB1 p.73            
John Jordan                                                                                           

▪ Jordan describes two incandescent lights designed for use inside guitars. One uses a 7½-watt bulb on a standard power cord. The other uses tiny low-voltage bulbs and a step-down transformer.

Bandsaw Riser Block

1985
AL#1 p.51   BRB1 p.29            
Joel-Ivan Hawley                                                                                           

▪ Hawley describes a method of sawing part way into a 4×4, then clamping it to the bandsaw table and using it as a table for sawing the outline of a guitar or banjo peghead.

Guitar Back Fitting Jig

1985
AL#1 p.42   BRB1 p.13            
Ted Davis                                                                                           

▪ Davis presents a drawing of a jig for properly forming the sides and lining of a guitar to accept a domed back. The sides are held in a mold while a sanding stick, held by a central post, is passed over them.

Electronic Moisture Meters

1985
AL#1 p.44   BRB1 p.44            
Gregory Jackson                                                                                           

▪ Jackson comments on the basic principle upon which electronic moisture meters work, use of the meters, and why you should not try to cobble together your own.

Pneumatic Cylinders

1985
AL#1 p.46   BRB1 p.26            
Michael Jacobson-Hardy                                                                                           

▪ Jacobson-Hardy describes devices based on pneumatic cylinders for bending sides, clamping braces to plates, clamping plates to sides, and holding neck blanks in a lathe.

Luthier’s Long Knife

1985
AL#1 p.49   BRB1 p.17            
C.F. Casey                                                                                           

▪ Casey briefly describes the construction and use of a long-handled knife designed to be used with two hands.

Hide Glue Steamer

1984
DS#286   LT p.47            
Elliott Burch                                                                                           

▪ Simple steamer rejuvenates gelled glue after it’s been applied and the clamps are in place.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Blackboard Eraser Polisher

1984
DS#288   LW p.111            read this article
Michael Dresdner                                                                                           

▪ Dresdner steals yet another tool from another discipline, this time for polishing frets after they’ve been shaped with a file.

Hardening and Tempering Steel

1984
DS#291   LT p.16            
Alan Carruth                                                                                           

▪ General process of identifying and heat treating steel for use in edge tools.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Nut Slotting Files

1984
DS#285   LW p.106            
Michael Dresdner                                                                                           

▪ In the “old days” you couldn’t buy a set of nut slotting files. They didn’t exist. The author used pattern makers files with parallel safety sides. He recommends learning about and adapting the tools from every trade that crosses your path.

Bass Neck Angle Jig

1983
DS#252   LT p.3            
Frederick-C. Lyman-Jr.                                                                                           

▪ Lyman was the GAL’s bass guru for years.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Making a Glue Pot

1983
DS#254   LT p.46            
Wesley Wadsworth                                                                                           

▪ A baby bottle warmer makes a good heater for hide glue.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Saddle Slot Dremel Base

1982
DS#221   LT p.61            
Don Alfieri                                                                                           

▪ Adds nylon bolts to the bottom corners of a Dremel base. The tool rides on the bolt heads, raising the router above the level of the bridge.

Bending with a Paint Stripper

1982
DS#227   LW p.88            
Al Leis                                                                                           

▪ Bending sides can be an intimidating process. It was especially so before the advent of the Fox bender. The author found a new method of applying heat to the wood to coerce the bend. With 6 photos to prove it works.

Instrument Molds

1982
DS#242   LT p.53            
Bo Walker                                                                                           

▪ A deep plywood frame with a guitar-shaped hole in it. Uses no hardware other than a few screws.

Making Bridges Using Power Tools

1982
DS#204   BRB2 p.289            
Kent Rayman                                                                                           

▪ The author uses a table saw and no jigs to help speed up the creation of classical guitar bridges. With 5 drawings.

Cutting Nut Slots with Strings

1982
DS#208   LW p.106            
Michael Trietsch                                                                                           

▪ The cheapo way to cut perfect nut slots is to use the wound string that will sit in the groove as a saw. It doesn’t work while the nut is mounted on the guitar, though. The unwound string slots are cut with an X-acto saw. With 1 drawing.

Flattop Bridge Removal

1982
DS#210   LW p.99            
Jim Williams                                                                                           

▪ Clean bridge removal is almost an art, but the right heat source and the proper tools can give even the first-timer a fighting chance. Williams offers a dedicated lamp setup for heat and a modified cabinet scraper to slide through the glue joint. With 3 drawings.

Life After the Dead

1981
GALQ Vol.9#2 p.10   LW p.70            
Rick Turner                                                                                           

▪ Turner started his lutherie life as part of the Grateful Dead’s clan of artists, engineers, and craftsmen, but ended up with his own company which built distinctive electric guitars. This shop tour includes 11 photos.

Dial Indicator Caliper

1981
DS#185   LT p.2            
T.E. Owen                                                                                           

▪ Aluminum frame, dial indicator.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Archtop Routing Jig

1981
DS#186   LT p.65            
Rion Dudley                                                                                           

▪ This guide registers on the sides of the guitar rather than the plates. It is intended for the Dremel tool, but will work with a larger router.

Sanding Board Tip

1981
DS#199   LW p.95            
Alan Carruth                                                                                           

▪ The author offers a simple trick for making flat-bottom sanding blocks. Includes a drawing.

Dust Free, Open Sided Sander

1981
DS#178   LT p.78            
Al Leis                                                                                           

▪ Open-sided sander utilizes a 6″ drum arbor-mounted on an electric motor and covered with a dust collection system.

Two Dremel Jigs

1980
DS#164   LT p.62            
J.D. Mackenzie                                                                                           

▪ One is a Dremel base for cutting binding channels. The second is another base used to inlay decorative stringing of the face of headstocks.

Body Mold

1980
DS#153   LT p.52            
Glenn Markel                                                                                           

▪ Basic mold holds the developing instrument body inside a frame of layered wood.

Go-Bar Deck

1980
DS#139   LT p.44            
David-B. Sheppard                                                                                           

▪ Simple system is cheap and easy to make.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Drill Press Rosette Grooves

1980
DS#140   LW p.80            
Larry Stevens                                                                                           

▪ A drill press only wants to make holes, but you can train it to do a lot of tricks. For instance, why not use it to mill the slots for rosette rings to snuggle into? Groovy! With diagrams of the cutting bits.

Doodlebug Pad Polishers

1980
DS#140   LW p.111            
Marvin Tench                                                                                           

▪ Yet another substitute for messy steel wool on your bench (not to mention your pickups). Doodlebug pads are a 3M scouring pad made of nylon. Polish your frets with impunity.

Modified Cam Clamp

1980
DS#143   LW p.97            
John-M. Colombini                                                                                           

▪ The author couldn’t reach through the small soundhole of a guitar to bolt the bridge on, so he devised a nifty cam clamp that not only holds the socket but aids in lining up all the pieces during the operation. With 3 diagrams.

Nuts and Bolts for Bridge Gluing

1979
DS#126   LW p.98            read this article
Tim Olsen                                                                                           

▪ How to use bolts and wing nuts to align a bridge through the pin holes and form part of the clamping force. With 1 drawing.

Sandpaper Hints

1979
DS#127   LT p.84            
Boyd Butler                                                                                           

▪ A tool that aids in tearing sandpaper sheets into useful sizes, and a sanding board for close places.

Deep Studding Top Cracks

1979
DS#116   LW p.95            
Al Leis                                                                                           

▪ So how does one reach w-a-y back there to reinforce top crack repairs? By making a special clamp, and by evolving a slick method of using it. Here’s how it’s done. Includes 2 photos.

Making Pointy Rosettes

1978
DS#88   LW p.78            
Tim Olsen                                                                                           

▪ Are you tired of rosettes that are just rings around the soundhole? Here’s a jumping off point if you want to take the plunge. The next step is to get rid of the round soundhole. With 3 diagrams.

Removing Side Ripples

1978
DS#95   LW p.90            
Don Musser                                                                                           

▪ Some wood ripples when it is wetted for bending. Musser describes how to remove the ripples, but you’ll have to have a metal bending form to use his method. With 2 photos.

Top and Back Joints

1978
DS#99   LW p.101            
Tim Olsen                                                                                           

▪ Build a simple shooting board to make plate joints with a plane, then use one of 3 tried-and-true forms of clamping workboards to glue them together.

Lining Strips

1978
DS#77   LT p.101            
Tim Olsen                                                                                           

▪ Table saw jig to evenly cut kerfs in rectangular strips of lining.

Razor Scrapers

1978
DS#84   LT p.29            
Tim Olsen                                                                                           

▪ Regrind single-edged razor blades into good little scrapers.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Routing Rosette Slots

1978
DS#69   LT p.61            
John Spence                                                                                           

▪ Spence uses sub-bases for his router to make rosette cavities. The sub-bases are drilled with holes that fit over a pin mounted in the center of what will be the soundhole.

Bandsaw Dust Collector

1978
DS#65   LT p.88            
Tim Olsen                                                                                           

▪ Machine manufacturers have become hip to the health problems that accompany the use of their equipment, and most incorporate dust collection ports into their new machines. This was hardly the case in the old days, and there are still tons of old machines in use. If you have one you are responsible for your own health, and thus the modification of your machine. The author’s ideas can be adapted to almost any bandsaw.

Lining Cutting Jig

1978
DS#68   LT p.88            
William Spigelsky                                                                                           

▪ Use this bandsaw jig to cut rectangular stock into triangular unkerfed lining blanks. This tip is confusing until you realize that the box is a permanent part of the jig, and that the jig should be clamped to the saw table. The binding stock is fed through, and supported by, the box.

Potassium Dichromate, Oxalic Acid, and Carnauba Wax

1977
DS#55   BRB1 p.36            read this article
Jeffrey-R. Elliott                                                                                           

▪ Various chemicals have been used for centuries to color (or de-color) wood. Fiddle makers are hip to tons of these, but Elliott describes a couple that he finds useful on his guitars. He also advocates lubricating tools and work surfaces with carnauba wax, which will not contaminate your wood.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Balanced Steel Drum Variation

1977
DS#48   LT p.73            
Kent Rayman                                                                                           

▪ Again, this is a variation in the Ruck-Brune sander. You need to read all these articles before beginning construction of your sander in order to avoid mistakes that others have already made.

Torch and Pipe Bending Iron

1976
DS#25   LT p.10            
Tim Olsen                                                                                           

▪ Four variations on the propane torch and water pipe.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Lead Filled Beer Can

1976
DS#25   LT p.11            
Dick DeNeve                                                                                           

▪ The best thing you can do with a beer can is empty it. The next best thing might be to put a heating element in the empty can and then fill it with lead to make a bending iron.

Fret Spacing Template

1976
DS#27   LT p.4            
Tom Peterson                                                                                           

▪ Lay out one fret scale accurately, then very quickly plot the fret positions for any larger scale length with no math or measuring tools.

Tool Steel

1976
DS#32   LT p.14            
H.E. Huttig                                                                                           

▪ Short history of steel and its principal alloys, plus a description of sharpening stones, and how to use and maintain them.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.

Sheet Copper Oval

1976
DS#33   LT p.11            
Lawrence Lundy   W. Daum                                                                                       

▪ Roll up a thick tube of copper and shoot a propane torch into the back of it. that’s yet another way to make a bending iron.

Ruck-Brune Sanding Machine

1976
DS#37   LT p.70            
Derek Iverson                                                                                           

▪ Iverson’s was the first report on a truly useful shop-made thickness sander at a time when there were no inexpensive commercial units to be had.

This article has been nominated as one of the Guild’s best articles published before 2010.