Where do you get your tools??

[The F-Bomb]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking at getting some basic set-up/repair tools (nut files/straightedges/feeler gauges/fret files, etc) and I'm wondering if there are quality differences between suppliers.

I've looked at Stew Mac, Lutherie Merchantile, Allparts and the prices are similar.

So my question is, where did you buy your tools from? Are you happy with the quality of the tools you received?

Thanks for your advise!!
Blair

[Rickett Customs]

*Some* I get from Stew-mac and LMII.... Grizzly is another.... Rockler .... Woodcraft.....Highland..........Garrett Wade........... But you can find a ton of them online, just google "wood tools"....

[lethargytartare]

I've purchased some crowning files on ebay, and they are low quality -- the radius of the medium files I got was so wide they're only really usable for jumbo frets. But when I did a fret dressing for a friend, I sprang for a proper crowning file (stewmac med/jumbo) -- it simply did a better job.

Similarly, I got some nut slotting files that are patterned after the stewmac variety, and I find the slot profiles are not graduated very well (from one to the next), but are otherwise fine -- just hard to get a nice fit for standard string sizes.

You can get cheap radius gauges on ebay, which have been sufficient for my needs -- and I wouldn't shell out for stewmac ones.

You can find Liberon 0000 steel wool on ebay and save a few bucks -- and that's the good stuff.

I do not trust the fret leveling and sanding device that is on ebay -- looks highly suspect to me, but I've never tried it.

In my fretting class, my teacher encouraged the use of the cheapest nippers we could get (we ground the face flush so they'd sit flush on the fretboard), and they worked fantastic -- the stewmac one is $26, we were using ones that were, like $6...

Needle files can be a decent compromise for nut slotting files (and some other uses), and sets can be picked up pretty cheap at any hardware store.

And if you check the kerf width of a fret slotting saw, you'll probably be able to find suitable saws elsewhere for cheaper at normal hardware stores.

Good luck!

ltt

[Rickett Customs]

Originally Posted by lethargytartare

In my fretting class, my teacher encouraged the use of the cheapest nippers we could get (we ground the face flush so they'd sit flush on the fretboard), and they worked fantastic -- the stewmac one is $26, we were using ones that were, like $6...

This is true, you can get some "end" cutters and ground the edge flush.

[The F-Bomb]

Originally Posted by lethargytartare

I've purchased some crowning files on ebay, and they are low quality -- the radius of the medium files I got was so wide they're only really usable for jumbo frets. But when I did a fret dressing for a friend, I sprang for a proper crowning file (stewmac med/jumbo) -- it simply did a better job.

Similarly, I got some nut slotting files that are patterned after the stewmac variety, and I find the slot profiles are not graduated very well (from one to the next), but are otherwise fine -- just hard to get a nice fit for standard string sizes.

You can get cheap radius gauges on ebay, which have been sufficient for my needs -- and I wouldn't shell out for stewmac ones.

You can find Liberon 0000 steel wool on ebay and save a few bucks -- and that's the good stuff.

I do not trust the fret leveling and sanding device that is on ebay -- looks highly suspect to me, but I've never tried it.

In my fretting class, my teacher encouraged the use of the cheapest nippers we could get (we ground the face flush so they'd sit flush on the fretboard), and they worked fantastic -- the stewmac one is $26, we were using ones that were, like $6...

Needle files can be a decent compromise for nut slotting files (and some other uses), and sets can be picked up pretty cheap at any hardware store.

And if you check the kerf width of a fret slotting saw, you'll probably be able to find suitable saws elsewhere for cheaper at normal hardware stores.

Good luck!

ltt

NICE!! Thanks for insight!

I was thinking the fret pullers on StewMac were way too much.

[INTP]

To echo previous comments, I modified this pair to pull my frets. I used my bench grinder to get them flat (dip in water very frequently to avoid ruining the heat treatment). They're larger than necessary, but they worked fine for my limited needs.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38496