"Mandatory" workshop tools for guitar builds.

[Alex_SG]

Hey all.

Just wondering what are the absolute "must have" tools for making a guitar.

I have a "hobby" sized (9") bandsaw, belt sander (albeit attached to a bench grinder), rasps, wood chisels, straight edges, drill press, electric drills, angle grinders and assorted hand tools such as pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets etc.

I know a router is a must... (It's on my "getting it soon" list).

What else?

Alex_SG

 

[Truss_rod]

A thickness planer is a must.

 

[ChasFred]

you need this for cutting your control cavities.

 

[FracStrat]

Beam Saw

 

[syscokid]

you need this for cutting your control cavities.

View attachment 28036

Those are also very effective in combating constipation...

 

[RVA]

This should be broken down into at least 2 categories:
1 - shaping necks and bodies
2 - assembly and setup

All together, there are lots of tools

 

[shreddy bender]

I would add fret files, soldering iron, straight edge beam for fret leveling, welding tip cleaner for cutting nut slots, an orbital sander and various sanding blocks ( flat, round and radius blocks).

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

Beam Saw

Yea baby

 

[RVA]

Crowning file, fret end file, fret saw, nut files, sanding paper from 220-at least 1,500 grit, poly or lacquer, 22 gauge wire, nuts...

 

[ChasFred]

Crowning file, fret end file, fret saw, nut files, sanding paper from 220-at least 1,500 grit, poly or lacquer, 22 gauge wire, nuts...

Just to mention a few
. . Or just get a Leatherman Wave for everything.

 

[RVA]

Just to mention a few
. . Or just get a Leatherman Wave for everything.

Yes, I know some of those are parts and not tools, but you need fret wire and a nut to make a guitar play, so same difference. Might as well throw in pots, caps, switch, bridge, tuners, pickguard, control cavity cover, truss rod cover, strap pins, fret end clippers.....

 

[RVA]

taps and drill bits for bridge bushings, tuners, ferrules...

pickup mounting rings and screws, pup height adjustment screws.....

 

[RVA]

lots and lots of clamps, various neck cradles, tite-bond glue, superglue of various viscosity

 

[shreddy bender]

lots and lots of clamps, various neck cradles, tite-bond glue, superglue of various viscosity

Yes! I forgot! CLAMPS! And the more the better.

 

[SG John]

Dremel tool, X-acto Knife with various shaped blades, forstener bits for the drill press.

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

Dremel tool, X-acto Knife with various shaped blades, forstener bits for the drill press.

Basically everything in the store.
You won’t want for anything else

 

[ChasFred]

Essentially there is no simple tool box for guitar work.

 

[Don O]

Soldering iron, wire strippers, hemostats, needle nose pliers, Allen wrenches, heat gun.

 

[Thatbastarddon]

heat gun.

^^^THIS!^^^

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

^^^THIS!^^^

This list can go for broke