Thread: Luthiers tool kit

Originally Posted by BobL

This is a small tool kit for luthier Chris Wynne of Thomas Lloyd Guitars, made under the brief of, " . . . . make me something like a few chisels or a plane made using Australian timber handles".

Bob,
beautiful work...I will be asking Chris for a look see when I do the guitar making course.

Bob,
your work, as always, is wonderful. I'm sure Chris will take great pride in using these lovely tools both here in Oz and while showing off his skills as a teacher in Italy this month.
I hope that you will consider making more sets like this for other people down the track. I'm sure people would love to pay what ever you ask for them.(no pressure)
all the best
Kevin

That set is a thing of beauty........bloody exquisite.

geezus Bob, they are awesome. You're officially now a Toolmaker.

You might get another course at Monsalvat for free now!

With each tool you make I think, jeez, can't get any better than that but you have done it again. That is a beautiful set constructed by a true craftsman, amazing work mate.

Cheers,
Burnsy

Top work Bob , I'm sure that Chris will treasure those

Thanks for all the feedback and positive comments guys - much appreciated.

I know it sounds wimpy but, compared to making one-of a kind tools, as it's the first set I have ever made I found making it as a set quite challenging. The sort of thing I'm talking about includes making the tools to size and carrying a bit of a consistent style across the set. Nevertheless a most satisfying product to send off to a client.

Cheers

Originally Posted by martrix

geezus Bob, they are awesome. You're officially now a Toolmaker.

I guess that's one better than being a tool!

That is one exquisite set of tools. I have sometimes considered making a cello but it would need to be a Strad to justify using tools like that.

Stunning set of tools Bob, well done! It would be a real challenge to make tools to all fit together like they belong...you've done it. The recipient will be thrilled I'm sure.

Cheers,

Thanks guys.

Someone on another forum asked me about the metal working and how much metal work machining was involved and I thought some of you might be interested in the response.

...............................................................
Apart from the saw (which was all made at home) the brass items were milled/turned at work where we have an old but useful metal shop. The remainder of the metal work was done in my home shop using basic power tools and hand techniques/tools. I usually shape/smooth the metal using a combination of 4" belt sander, 5" angle grinder, 8 and 10" bench grinder, files and a Dremel. The only metalworking machines as such I have at home are a 5" water cooled metal cutting disc mounted in an old 8" table saw and a 1 HP drill press. I also have a MAPP torch that I can silver solder small things with and a $99 stick welder.

As I have elsewhere described the making of all the tools except for the chisels I will restrict my details to the chisels.

The brass ferrules are turned and par polished at work. At home I form the tang holes with a 3 mm drill and needle files.

The chisel blades are made from McJing M2 tool steel blanks. The sequence is as follows;
- The blanks are parallelograms ie not rectangular, so the first thing I do is cut one end (the cutting end) square.
- Next the tang and small curve/neck near the tang are cut and ground using metal cutting saw and grinder, then smoothed with a mini dremel sanding drum.
- Then I mount the blade sideways in a weighty steel jigg which exposes just the right amount of steel at an appropirate angle that needs to be ground away on the long sideways bevel, the bevel is then ground approximately using a bench grinder and finished on belt sander.
- Then I grind the primary bevel before epoxying the blade and ferrule onto the handle.
- Finally flatten backs and sharpen on 1200/6000 japanese water stones.