luthier tools wanted

[sinister]

hello all I just fixed my old stella acoustic no music store even wanted to fix and now plays quite well. but it took me many hrs without the right tools. all I had was flat files and a block of wood and sandpaper and useing cut up flat steel for finding all the flat and high spots. sooooo to make a long story short im looking for the right tools as I would like to do it more for friends and family as they saw how good of a job I did. so hopefully can find the right toold for cheap from someone on here who has gotten a different or new set and no longer needs the old ones. pm me info and hopefully I can find a descent leveling and fret crowning set. thanks much
Steve

[charles Tauber]

For fret levelling, a $10 ba$$tard mill file works very well. These days, I use water sharpening stones, not as inexpensive, but un-oiled oil stones would also work, available very inexpensively, $10 or so.

Many people use a 3-corner file for crowning frets and rounding ends, $25 or so. Finish off with sandpaper or steel wool to polish the frets.

For $10, you can buy a set of needle files that will work well for nut slots. For another $10, add an X-Acto saw blade and handle.

So, for about $50, you're all set. Nothing fancy, but more than adequate for the job. Have each of your friends and family for whom you do work contribute $10 for the work you do on their guitars, and you'll have the tools and can even upgrade them as you go, should you feel the need to.

[sinister]

right on thanks for the reply. I will have to go grab the tools you mentioned there. it will for sure cut down on timw I bet lol

[fazool]

For my automotive tool set I insist on high quality tools (snap-on, facom, old craftsman, etc.) . You really want to avoid cheapies like Harbor Freight for mechanical work.

However, for wood work and luthier/guitar tech work, Harbor Freight is a great resource.

Their tools are cheap and don't have to hold up to mechanics abuse - they are plenty good enough for guitar tasks.

They are not high precision but for the basics (hammers, pliers, some of their files, sockets, screwdrivers, C-clamps, etc.) they are great!

[LouieAtienza]

I will attest that the bar clamps i bought at Harbor Freight just as good if not.better than the big box stores. You can take a cheap triangle file and grind one edge to a radius, which you can use for fret crowning...

[Howard Klepper]

Originally Posted by fazool

For my automotive tool set I insist on high quality tools (snap-on, facom, old craftsman, etc.) . You really want to avoid cheapies like Harbor Freight for mechanical work.

However, for wood work and luthier/guitar tech work, Harbor Freight is a great resource.

Their tools are cheap and don't have to hold up to mechanics abuse - they are plenty good enough for guitar tasks.

They are not high precision but for the basics (hammers, pliers, some of their files, sockets, screwdrivers, C-clamps, etc.) they are great!

The opposite for me. My lutherie tools are my professional tools, and are used every day. Only good quality will do the job and avoid mistakes and frustration. Files in particular have to be good quality, and that is getting harder to find, since American manufacturers have offshored a lot of their production. The Swiss makers are more reliable.

I am an occasional mechanic, and my sets of cheapie wrenches, etc. from Harbor Freight and other low-end suppliers are good enough.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

The opposite for me. My lutherie tools are my professional tools, and are used every day. Only good quality will do the job and avoid mistakes and frustration.

I am an occasional mechanic, and my sets of cheapie wrenches, etc. from Harbor Freight and other low-end suppliers are good enough.

Ah yes, of course. A professional Luthier will want the best tools. I was meaning for home DIY type stuff.