5 Most Necessary powertools for building a bass?

[Greg Johnsen]

I was just wondering what you guys think are the 5 most necessary power tools that are required for building a bass. I've got it narrowed down to 5 I think, but if there is a better tool for something, then please share, or if you have a better list, that'd be great too.

tools:
Router
Band saw
Drum sander (or another kind, not sure on this one)
Jigsaw
Hand Drill

I'd appreciate any other help you guys could give too.

Thanks,
Greg

[spudmaster34]

I bet most people would replace hand drill with drill press

[Greg Johnsen]

yah, true, I thought about that, but as lucky as I am with my dad being supportive and all, I don't want to push it too far, and we already have a nice hand drill, so I don't want to ask hm for something that I can use something we already have for (if that makes sense).

Btw, I've changed from my last bass idea, I'm gonna do a hagstrom style bass with darkstars, should be sweet.

Greg

[klocwerk]

Router
Bandsaw or jigsaw, no need for both. (Obviously bandsaw's preferable.)
Drill Press
Palm sander
Spindle sander

That'd be my top 5.

[msherman]

I say if you can get these 6 machines, it`s a good start;
Band saw
Joiner
Thickness sander
Drill press
Router
Spindle sander

Then various hand tools, rasps/files, chisels, clamps, ect...

Mike

[Foamy]

Drill Press can be fitted with a spindle sander attachment. A wee bit hokey, but should be enough for most stuff you'll need.
+1 on planer
Bandsaw for sure
Router

A hand tool I find invaluable is a microplane that mounts in a standard hacksaw frame.

[Hambone]

Router
Drill press (doubles as a spindle sander)
Table Saw
Band Saw
Jointer

With this setup, you should be able to use standard dimension wood without the need to mill something to a special thickness.

Router
Drill Press
Table Saw
Planer or Thickness Sander
Jointer

This setup would allow you to easily process your wood from larger pieces and that would ease the cost of the build. The bandsaw duties would be done by the router and templates.

[ebe9]

- Band saw / jig saw (band saw preferable)
- Router
- Drill press
- Belt sander
- Thicknesser/Planner (jointer)


And either of these are very useful.

- Table saw
- Radial arm saw

[PilbaraBass]

You left out:

coffee machine and
electric blender

no WAY you gonna do ANYTHING without an ample supply
of coffee and frozen daquiris!

[mahrous]

looks around:
band saw
planar
drill press (also router, spindle sander)
air compressor if you wanna use sprayed finishes


4 are enough. i am easy to satisfy!

[Luke Sheridan]

Keep that hand drill far away from your project. Unless you can drill perfectly horizontal holes. Not likely with Philbara's suggestions.
Well, it is usefull with a spindle sander attachment.

[Suburban]

1. Jig saw, or better: band saw
2. Router
3. Drill press (=spindle sander, thicknesser for slim details, lathe for knobs....)
4. Thickness sander
5. eeh...not necessary, but perhaps a table saw?

A good jig saw, a good router and a superb drill press will get you veeeery far.

[msherman]

I`m not a big fan of using a drill press for spindle sanding as side loading on the shaft makes for a hard life on the bearings.

[Rodent]

in order

quality router with sufficient HP capacity
bandsaw
drill press (even better would be a used ShopSmith)
jointer (could utilize a router jig instead)
thickness sander (my preference over a planer)

I don't have a tablesaw in my shop, and can say that I'm not missing it to any huge extent. in every case where I need to shorten a long board, I have made good use of a compound miter saw

all the best,

R

[anonymous278347457]

i built a bass with a router and a hand drill


but I did get a wood working shop place to plane and cut the rough body shape out


(since i severely screwed it up with a jigsaw+planer)

[fish man]

Originally Posted by msherman

I`m not a big fan of using a drill press for spindle sanding as side loading on the shaft makes for a hard life on the bearings.

Surely not hard enough to warrant buying a separate spindle sander?

[fish man]

IMO:

drill press
router
bandsaw
random orbital sander
handheld belt sander

[Scott in Dallas]

#1: Random Orbit Sander
#2: Drill press with forstner bits
#3: Jigsaw or band saw
#4: Router
#5: Dremel with router base (nice for cleaning up)

I hand plane all my wood, which is more fun, especially since I just make guitars for myself.

The equipment for a sharpening station is going to be moving up that list before long.

[Hambone]

Originally Posted by Scott in Dallas

#1: Random Orbit Sander
#2: Drill press with forstner bits
#3: Jigsaw or band saw
#4: Router
#5: Dremel with router base (nice for cleaning up)

I hand plane all my wood, which is more fun, especially since I just make guitars for myself.

The equipment for a sharpening station is going to be moving up that list before long.

You don't need any special equipment to do the "Scary Sharp"
method of sharpening. Use a piece of glass and strips of wet/dry sandpaper from 600 to 2000 and higher if you have them. By putting the sandpaper on the glass wet, you get a very stable and flat surface. Then you simply pull your chisel or whatever back on the grit only a couple of times before moving up to the next grit. By the time you get to the highest grits, you'll have a mirror sharp edge that WILL cut you badly. Be sure to grind the back of the edge before moving to the face of the blade.

[msherman]

Originally Posted by fish man

Surely not hard enough to warrant buying a separate spindle sander?

There is a reason it`s called a "Drill Press".
Most entry level and home drill presses don`t have the bearing heads to handle prolonged use of side loading the chuck.

If you look at a Shopsmith, the bearing heads are patterned after milling machines where side loading is intended. I have one for sale with all the attachments if anyone is interested.

Besides, entry level Ocillating Spindle sanders cost about $150
If you are going to build guitars, it`s well worth the investment.