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Tool Ratings Thread.

Tryxx

Tryxx

Sputnik Forums: Bass Mod
Jun 1, 2005
287
1
38
Hurst, Texas.
#1
Hey guys,

As we all know, an integral part of starting to build an instrument is your tools and workshop. For most people there is a bit of a budget involved. This can make the search for tools frustrating, especially someone inexperienced about the market. This thread is geared to show amature or beginning luthier's tools that are good for a job, especially relating to the brand.

For instance, I had an idea of a somewhat cheap budget shop, full of Delta power tools. However, after looking in person at the tools at Lowes, I found myself less than satisfied with some of their products. The biggest dissapointment was looking at Delta's planer right next to a DeWalt. Plus their lower end stuff had plastic parts that were chipped or broken, I thought to myself "Why would I buy this if it's on display and broken? How can I be sure it will last years in a working environment?"

So please post your opinions on what you suggest, and why!

Here's my list of essentials that I believe would get me started:

  • Band Saw
  • Drill Press
  • Jointer
  • Planer
  • Table Saw
  • Fixed/Plunge Base Router Kit
  • Ball Bearing Router Bits
  • Random Orbital Sander
  • Dust Collector
  • Radius Blocks
  • Luthier's File Set
  • Caliper
  • Rasps
  • Soldering Iron
  • Multimeter
  • Clamps
Lots of nick nacks missing, but you get the idea. I myself are particularly interested in the tools above, and what you guys would suggest would be perfect for the job.
 
#2
Tryxx said:
So please post your opinions on what you suggest, and why!

Here's my list of essentials that I believe would get me started:

Lots of nick nacks missing, but you get the idea. I myself are particularly interested in the tools above, and what you guys would suggest would be perfect for the job.
Click to expand...

I'm by no means professional and have since bought more tools for my second build, but I found a pretty good bare minimum with my first build.

  • Band Saw Used a Hand Held Jig Saw Instead
  • Drill Press Used a hand held drill
  • Jointer Sand Paper, and lots of it!
  • Planer Made a jig from my plunge router
  • Table Saw Used my hand held circular saw
  • Fixed/Plunge Base Router Kit Absolutely needed......I got a cheap one from Harbor Freight that works fine for under 100.00
  • Ball Bearing Router Bits 1/2 roundover and a template bit (buy the good ones, I almost lost my neck when a bearing flew off a cheap bit)
  • Random Orbital Sander This was a nice thing to have although probably not needed, I used a good plane more often.
  • Dust Collector only if you don't like a mess
  • Radius Blocks I did my fretboard flat
  • Luthier's File Set Needle files from Home Depot, and use tape and be very careful!!
  • Caliper I bought a cheap one from Harbor Freight that worked great!
  • Rasps The main tool I used! Get a good one!
  • Soldering Iron Absolutely!!
  • Multimeter I didn't use one......but it can't hurt.
  • Clamps Get lots of them, and then go buy more!

I'll add that a good set of files is a great thing to have for all the small and hard to reach curves. Also, my approach was bare minimum and it shows in some aspects of my build. Right tools for the right job would have made my life easier.......
 
#4
just a quick thought on how the tools 'look'. The dewalt planer seems like a great tool and gets pretty good ratings, but so does the delta (more or less the same specs). But the dewalt knifes are notorious for having low life, going dull with relatively little bf of softwood going thorugh it, and replacements are VERY expensive.

The best thing you can do is research review sites and stores like amazon, that allows buyer reviews.

oh, I have a couple of Pfeil gauges that I couldn't believe how much better they are than the Robert Sorby I had bought before. They are GREAT tools.
 
#5
Hi Tryxx,

I didn't see a stout workbench on your list, and can't imagine working without one; I'd start by buying or building one!

When I was starting out, I used mostly hand tools for woodworking. I started with a small workbench, a Bosch jigsaw, a well-tuned hand plane (#4 1/2), a few bench chisels and carving tools, two card scrapers (rectangular and gooseneck), a router, an electric drill and an adjustable drill guide, spokeshaves, clamps, patternmakers rasp (Nicholson #49 or 50), detail files, sandpaper, and - critical - sharpening gear.

After several decades I now have shop full of hand and power tools, but I managed to make a lot of furniture and a few basses with tools of the kind listed above. My next power tools were a hand-held circular saw, bandsaw and drill press.

Were I starting out today, I'd definitely look at the EZ Smart Guide ( www.eurekazone.com ) or the Festool equivalent to guide my hand-held circular saw and router, a router table outfitted with a beefy variable-speed router, a Performax thicknessing sander, and an oscillating spindle sander.

Don't let anybody tell you the job can't be done without a shop full of expensive power tools!
 
#6
I have owned both the Dewalt 2 speed planer and the Delta 12 1/2 shopmaster. I still have the delta, after 7 years. The Dewalt, although nice, was a repair nightmare. My shop is about 50/50 Delta and Jet/Powermatic. Delta is built for the budget minded woodworker who wants a fair amount of quality, and very good durability. Every Delta unit I have owned has worked as well when I sold it as it did when I bought it. Sort of like OLD Craftsman stuff used to. As for displays in Lowes....they are just that....displays. They get handled, knocked around, moved 1000 times a year by employees and potential buyers. Don't ever be leary of Delta Quality, they make some great machines for the price.

As for tools in a shop, I would say the things to concentrate on are good router, Bandsaw, a drill press, surforms and microplanes, a good hand plane, and chisels. These will get you off into the woodworking aspect. After that, you can look towards more specialized tools such as spindle sander, thickness planer and sander, Jointer and hand tools like nut files and fret files. It's all dependanton your budget and amount of woodworking experience you have as to what you will want to buy first.
 
#7
Well I've bought for my first project only clamps, a router (which haven't used at all because these two last weeks have been a nightmare for me at work), a rasp, a caliper and a steel ruler. Borrowed a handheld jig saw. For the big cuts I have taken my to a shop and this guy have a BIG bandsaw and tablesaw and so I only need him to buy a planer :D.
 
#8
Musiclogic said:
...Sort of like OLD Craftsman stuff used to. ...
Click to expand...

hmm, I know what you mean, but there are a few tools that craftsman has been contracting from the same china factory that makes the Palmgren and Rikon tools. I have 3 of these tools (the 14" prof bandsaw and the small 6.25 benchtop jointer, and a belt/disc sander that's actually palmgren brand) and they are very good quality, cast iron all around and seem like they would last a lifetime ...although not to be compared with industrial quality Laguna or Powermatic tools. Most of their other stuff is pretty hobby/home improvement oriented (cheap).
 
#10
Musiclogic said:
<SNIP>As for displays in Lowes....they are just that....displays. They get handled, knocked around, moved 1000 times a year by employees and potential buyers. Don't ever be leary of Delta Quality, they make some great machines for the price.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. Having spent a few years working in woodworking retail stores, I'll add that parts are likely to be missing when you buy a display model - they are often lost by the store or purloined by passing customers. If one is considering a floor model, it's prudent to go through the manual and account for all of the parts and accessories before you decide to buy.

Additionally, floor models are often assembled by store employees and are seldom assembled, adjusted, or fine-tuned well enough to be used safely. A tool that has been bolted together, and maybe even used for a demonstration or two, may not be accurate enough to produce satisfactory results, irrespective of appearances.The purchaser should carefully verify every aspect of assembly and adjustment before use.
 

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