Tool Suppliers

[Graffiti62]

Hey Guys--

Due to being laid off (bad news) and receiving a severence package bigger than what I was making at that job anyway (good news), I've decided to commit to building up a full luthier shop in my basement and doing repair/custom work part time. There's only one guy in about 50 miles of where I live that does instrument repair, but he hates working on electric guitars. I've been looking online at some tool suppliers, and the one that seems to have most of everything is StewMac. I've been able to get around going through them by doing a few things on my own (my homemade buffer stand is a work in progress--I'll post pics when I'm done), but I was wondering if anyone had any other sources for tools and supplies. Also, if anyone could share some advice on tools (cherries/lemons out there), that'd be huge.

Thanks!

 

[Twelvebar]

http://www.lmii.com/

Luthier's Mercantile.  Compare prices between here and Stew Mac, each has strong points, I buy from both.

 

[pabloman]

StewMac really is the best place for the specialty tools. Their stuff is developed through trial and error so they deal with the headaches so you don't have to. There are a few items available on ebay from homebuilders that look pretty good. For the core of your basic and hand tools I would recommend staying with the name brand stuff. Most of my tools are SnapOn. Mainly because I am a mechanic. They offer a free replacement but so does Craftsman but in my experience they are still inferior to SnapOn, Mac, Matco, or even Cornwell. As far as shop tools Harbor Freight has some decent machines that would allow you to get started with probably the smallest investment. I would definately start off with at least a planer/joiner, drill press, band saw, spindle sander, router table, laminate router and so on. The Colt is a nice unit. Harbor Freight has a bunch of cheap clamps and what not. Try to buy all of your sandpaper in bulk. I would get the biggest air compressor you could budget within reason. If you plan on painting then a place to do it is a must. Also a place for the stuff to cure. And dust collection too. Wow! This could go on and on. I'm pretty envious. Good luck

 

[Cagey]

I'm a little skeptical here. You don't have the tools you need, but you want people to pay you to do work that not only requires that you know how to use those tools, but that you have enough experience that you won't hurt their babies. Then, you don't know where to get those tools, or how to substitute them? Are you sure this is the business you should be going into? Honestly, it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

When computer programmers lose their jobs, they don't go looking for dental tools. When painters lose their jobs, they don't go looking for CNC machines. When cooks lose their jobs, they don't go looking for ophthalmoscopes.

Look into my eye...​

You gotta work to your strengths. You also have to know your market. Could be the reason there isn't a guitar shop in your area is there isn't enough work in that area to support a guitar technician. It doesn't pay much in the first place, so you have to do some serious volume to make any money at it, which means you'll starve if you have to climb a learning curve, which may not even be there to climb.

I don't mean to be Mr. Downer, but I wonder how much thought you've given to this. There's an old saying "Do what you love, and the money will follow." This is usually true, but it also usually applies to people who have the time to develop the skills and equipment to do what they want. If you don't know where your next check is coming from, you may not have the kind of time it takes to survive the school of hard knocks.

But, I don't know your situation, and I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm just going by the tone and content of your question. I could be way off base, so take it all in the spirit it's given. I'd like to be helpful. I wouldn't mind doing the same thing, but it looks to me like it would be pretty easy to spend thousands of dollars to get set up properly, assuming you have the space and talent, then you'd have to put in some pretty long hours to make a living at it. A willingness to put in long hours isn't enough, though. There has to be enough demand for the work that the hours are available. Nothing worse than spending all that money to get set up, only to end up sitting there waiting for something to do.

 

[pabloman]

I thought he wanted a luthier shop and not just a tech bench :dontknow: If you just want to be a tech all you need is a soldering station wire cutters 2 screw drivers a couple allen wrenches a ruler and a string winder. :icon_jokercolor:

 

[Cagey]

I said "technician", but that's a pretty generic term. To me, anyone who isn't a luthier is a tech at best. But, if he's a luthier that's even worse. A luthier that doesn't know where to get tools? What did he learn on? Lego blocks? I'm not trying to disparage the original poster, but my original concerns still apply. You can't wish yourself into the business no matter how dearly you'd like to be there, and throwing money at it probably won't work, either. You have to develop a clientele and a reputation, which requires time and that there be a market for such talent in the first place.

 

[swarfrat]

One of the software blog guys says 'You NEED competition'. As a small time operation, you don't have the capital to create an entirely new market where there isn't already one.

I just got back from Alaska, where the 4th largest town in the state has 14,000 people and isn't connected by road to anywhere else. Great flyfishing, but I'd hate to try to make a living as a luthier there. (Although AK has one of the highest per capita alcohol consumptions. If they're drinking in bars instead of getting tanked at home,  maybe there's more live music than the numbers would indicate..)

 

[BigBeard]

Bro,

First let me say to please not listen to what Cagey is saying.  Someone definately pissed in his wheaties.  StewMac is a good place for the specialized tools you need.  Also google 'Jewlers tool supply' as I use a lot of jewlers tools, we have an old family friend that is a jewler, once and a while I stop in his shop and he has a little box under his bench that he throws old files and tools that he can no longer use for me as I can use a dead jewlers file after he cannot.  My suggestion to you as someone who does what you are trying to do is to find a few bodies, Mighty Mites or something like that cheap and crank out some examples of your work..... and give them away if you need to.  I gave a guitar away about 5 years ago to a local musician buddy, and he gigs with it all the time, although it has now become his backup guitar since he bought an ES-335, he is talking with me about a Gibson style guitar....... But when he does get out his "Roast Beef Sandwich" (he calls it that because it is a maple top and back with a walnut core) he does get questions about it, and he keeps my cards in the case.  It doesn't get me all that much work...  I mean I have built one guitar this year for someone else and have done about 6 repairs in 2010.  Definately not enough work to feed my family, but it does make the payments on my motorcycle most months.  It is tough trying to rely on this kind of work starting out.  For years I would hand out cards and get nothing.  I started building guitars when I was in high school, and started repairing in college, as I had one of my homebuilds in my dorm room and other guitar players that came over would ask about it, and bring me their messed up guitars.  I got a lot of practice making Squier Strats playable.  Go buy a Wal-Mart guitar, and turn it into something actually playable.  That'll be a good test for you, to see if you can actually polish a turd, you know what I'm saying?

 

[pabloman]

I used to host an open mic night. That gave me the chance to show off my wares and get them in peoples hands. Now is actually a good time to be a builder because boutique gear is very popular and well received. Chase ur dreams man.

 

[koshersteel]

Q: how do you make one million dollars building guitars?
A: start with two million dollars.

that being said, follow your bliss...

 

[Wyliee]

If you're looking at StewMac for tools, I'd suggest going to your local hardware store.  Much of the same hardware can be found there cheaper.  Example: files, sandpaper, vises, etc....  In many cases, there is no need to go to a specialty shop.

 

[pabloman]

Ya just get the specialty tools from them.

 

[BigBeard]

If you're looking at StewMac for tools, I'd suggest going to your local hardware store.  Much of the same hardware can be found there cheaper.  Example: files, sandpaper, vises, etc....  In many cases, there is no need to go to a specialty shop.

Eric for the win!!!!!!  That is a great point, really.  Unfortunately some guys only have Home Depot and Lowes to find tools in.  Luckily for me I have a hardware store that is within almost walking distance from my house.  I mean it's so close that when I take my bike the pipes don't get hot!!!  My hardware store has a bin of tools under $5, and I have found cheapie dremel bits in it, clamps of all kinds, screwdrivers etc etc.  The best places still are those that are mom n pop owned really.  And it's good to get to know mom or pop, cause they know where everything is in their store, unlike the douchebags that they hire at the big places.  Funny that Lowes and the Depot drug test employees, but still manage to get people who remind me of what is on my toilet paper after I wipe!

StewMac is great for a couple of things......like string spacing rules..... And actually they are one of the few places I have found 'pattern making' router bits that aren't an inch long below the bearing.  But that's about it.  Everything else they sell you can source cheaper if you look around a little bit.

 

[OzziePete]

Personally I am not experienced enough to pass a decent opinion about the needs of a full on repair shop, but if I was embarking upon such a venture in the US, I'd look at the websites like Stew Mac and LMII as mentioned above and find a decent mid sized hardware store that stock good quality tools for tradesmen and see if the tools you need from Stew Mac or LMII can be sourced there.

Or talk to ajewelller about where they get their tools from, also talking to places like shoe repairs, engravers etc. those who use small specialist tools, might be of some help in finding suppliers.

But look at what work you will be doing and what is needed. Bench space, mats, a decent solder iron, drill bits, routers, templates for common routings, if you are going to offer painting/finishing, there's a whole other stack of equipment you will need to get too.

Plus, being a professional, you wil have to be mindful of your OH & S responsibilities to yourself and those who visit, particularly if you are finishing guitars and the emissions from the spraying, or if there's things like hot solder irons around...Oh and suitable insurance and checking with where you are going to do this work, that it doesn't breach some sort of local regulations doing what you intend to do. (Last thing you would want to happen is to establish your work shop at home only to find a neighbour gets upset and you have the council up in arms about your backyard business, and then you need to find a workplace)

 

[koshersteel]

oh yeah, and never work on an instrument you can't afford to buy in case anything unfortunate should happen while it is in your possession.