Where do you learn all this???

[Jools4001]

I wish I had the opportunity to take wood shop in HS.

I took woodwork (that's the UK version of wood shop) learned all the theory, and practical stuff. I remember jointing and bookmatching a coffee table top using hand tools (big 'ol plane and straightedge) - which was fun - it took me so many passes to get the edges squared and have no chinks of light along the straightedge that I started to wonder whether a 6" wide coffee table would be worthwhile but it all worked out in the end and happily it was still 22" wide and fitted the frame I had made...All morticed and tenoned and with dovetailed drawers. My mum kept it for 25 years before it hit the fire.

Until I was in my mid-20's I had access to a decent workshop and made 3 instruments, a g***** (SG Copy) and a fretted and fretless bass - also defretted an old MIJ Jazz copy but that doesn't count. I made the whole thing with the other three, necks and everything. Unfortunately, in the UK at the time there was no real info on how to do this and the quality bridges, tuners and pups that are available today were a distant dream. All you could get over here (short of paying eye-watering prices for genuine Fender or Gibson stuff) was really, really horrible pressed steel stuff - you'd probably have had better luck making a bridge out of scrunched up cooking foil than the quality these things had. So the instruments were playable, and (along with an old short scale hofner saw me through until I purchased my first 'real' bass but they were definitely not things of beauty - either to look at or play.

The irony is that now all the books and info on here have given me real insight and ideas on how to accomplish this, I don't have a shop or any access to one. I'm desperate to start again so a router is being purchased this weekend and I'll see how I go with that, my jigsaw, a workmate and a few hand tools

 

[Jazzdogg]

I'm currently 15. My schools starting to push the "What do you want to be when you grow up, what classes do you wana take related to your field". Well I think I'm going to do something with computer because I don't mind sitting down for a long time with a computer, and I can type up to 110 words a minute. I'm taking 2 computer classes for my electives next year, one advanced. (sorry for rambling)

Anyway, I'd like to learn about woodworking, and general Luthier related things.

Are there classes I can take outside of school, or website I can learn from. Did any of you guys (and girls) learn how to do your woodworking and electronics from a Luthier school, Or did you just kinda learn as you went.

Thanks, Matt

You might want to see if there's a woodworking club in your community and attend meetings to see if you're interested in becoming a member. These can be great places to meet prospective mentors, network, and learn who sells what, etc.

You may also want to see if there's a credible woodworking program at your local college. For the past two semesters, I've had a high school student enrolled in my classes; the other students don't pick on him (because he has a good attitude), and he's proved to be a very good student.

Good luck!

 

[J. Crawford]

I wish my school offered/had the funds for woodshop.

 

[GrinchBass]

Unless you plan on working for someone else the rest of your life, take as many business classes as you can. Many artists in sound or wood have great products and get eaten by bad business decisions. No matter what you end up doing, a business degree will make you more valuable.

I know it sounds dreadful, but it gives you the tools to deal with that aspect of life and keep it from ruling--and maybe ruining--everything else.

I would not disagree with anything you said, but I would only amend it. To be a "successful" builder, and a business, yes.

I eschew this. I have skills, and I let established companies benefit from that, and that allows me to make the odd things I do, with a good deal of artistry, and not be reliant on a model line or orders. I personally prefer it this way. My skills get honed big time, yet my creativity is uninhibited due to the financial freedom (being an employee of a company with a name/recognition/demand that I don't have).

That's just my way, and I like it.

 

[Rickett Customs]

I would not disagree with anything you said, but I would only amend it. To be a "successful" builder, and a business, yes.

I eschew this. I have skills, and I let established companies benefit from that, and that allows me to make the odd things I do, with a good deal of artistry, and not be reliant on a model line or orders. I personally prefer it this way. My skills get honed big time, yet my creativity is uninhibited due to the financial freedom (being an employee of a company with a name/recognition/demand that I don't have).

That's just my way, and I like it.

I think I can agree with this, I took further education, in my late 20's with Infomation technology. Although I might have liked to go for a biz degree, finances won't let it right now, however I'm in a position where I'm surrounded by folks who have owned businesses for several decades, so some business sense is being instilled in me, while I continue to build myself into business, but I too hold creativity first right now, so I may not become a millionaire by it, but like grinch said, "My skills get honed big time".

 

[DizzyExiled]

in wood shop watch for the kick back on the table saw, there's still a good 2x2 dent in the door of the woodshop at my old highschool thanks to yours truly.

I still have that candy dispenser somewhere...

 

[Rickett Customs]

in wood shop watch for the kick back on the table saw, there's still a good 2x2 dent in the door of the woodshop at my old highschool thanks to yours truly.

I still have that candy dispenser somewhere...

You think that's bad? I've seen a dude cutting on a radial arm saw, started the cut, somehow the board kick up and flew sideways across the room and went right in to a pegboard wall, like an arrow on a target...... I was 5' away for it's destination.......scared the **** out of me!

 

[REAPER52]

Some luck wont hurt either. I have been a welder for 34 years.i went to trade school way back then - they just taught me enough to make me believe i knew something. went out got a job and relized real fast that i didnt know as much as i thought. Got lucky and responded to an add in the paper for a REAL welder . So i went and told the guy that most of what was in the add i had no idea how to do- but if you take me under your wing -i'll be the best student you ever had. Well he hired me right on the spot .That man spent many hours -that he didnt have to --teaching me how to weld -and metalurgy .most importantly he taught me about metals and why they react the way they do. There is so much more to working with wood then you will ever learn in a wood shop. same goes for welding. Every metal has its own life as does every wood. Take the class's .Read everything you can get your hands on. Be as hungry for knowlage as you can . find a mentor that works for you or rather that you can work with. And then after years of doing -not watching -if your lucky youll be a master craftsman. sad part is that the old masters are being replaced by cnc machines. but there are still some people that believe in the true Master Craftsmanship of yester year . Its a long road and there are no shortcuts. But if you get to that level there is nothing more rewarding then to know that you did it with your hands your mind . and just remember someone showed you -so pass it on... Always set the bar higher then you can reach.

 

[vbasscustom]

yeah jeeze, a peice of cracked wood i was running through my table saw broke halfway through, and the split peice shot out of the saw, and went right through my aluminum door, its happened too me twice, yeah, i know.

 

[Malinoski]

A happy woodworker has all of his fingers.

I learned everything at state universities,
almost on my own.
Certain experienced guys showed me how not to cut off my fingers and I listened.
That was about it.
Community Colleges are a good idea if they have a shop.

Don't listen to most of these forums about instruments
as they only set up fences in front of where you might want to go.

We all know what is now,
what is next?

I still have all my fingers...
today.

 

[edot3021]

Definitely take a shop class, simple circuits class, etc . It depends what you want to do though. If there is a luthier in your town I'd say ask him if you can do an internship or just hang around the shop. When I was 15 I learned that you don't just jump in and get to do what you want so there is a lot of gopher work, cleaning up after people doing the job, etc. My other piece of advice would be to just get your hands dirty and experiment. You can usually find sites that will tell you how to do this or that. It may just be me, but I learn best after making the mistake then figuring out how to avoid it next time.