Just received my yearly Stew Mac Catalog in the mail the other day. I love browsing through it, daydreaming about being a real luthier someday having all these weird and wonderful tools. But I'm also seeing some that I could really use now for building my 3 and 4 string guitars. There's a couple rasps, scrapers and other building tools that look sweet. When I first started the hobby I just built with what was already in my tool chest, but I have picked up a couple "specialty" tools since (spoke shave, fret saw with depth stop, small rubber hammer). I don't think they were completely necessary to build a cbg, but they've sure either sped up the process or made it substantially easier.
The items like the dragon rasp and the nut files look like they could further expidite my building process with much less explitives involved, but then I look at the prices of this stuff. I always wonder if I'm frugal or just downright cheap but who can afford this stuff without being a professional? To get a handful of tools, like a nut file set, rasp and scraper, would cost me $140 + shipping + Can conversion (our dollar is in the crapper right now). Is this stuff really worth it? Is it really going to make my builds that much better?
What's everyone's opinion? Has anyone shelled out the cash for specialty equipment and found it was worth every penny?
Replies
Nice stuff in their catalog, but I'm on a budget. If I can find a similar tool close to home cheaper and not have to pay shipping it's a plus. CBGitty has a great deal on a fret saw and miter box. I'll go to Harbor Freight, Lowe's and Home Depot to look for tools or something that I can use or mod into a useful tool. Cheap valve shim tools make wonderful nut files by cutting teeth with a Dremel and a pair of pliers that cost 2 bucks were modded into fret pullers.
I call it the "very dangerous catalog" :-) because it makes me want to buy all kinds of stuff. I generally immediately put it in the garbage without looking at it so I'm not tempted.
I used to buy more tools from them back when I had more money, so I'm pretty well stocked. I do have to say, all of my tools have held up with well over many years with hobby level use. So it's worth the purchase in my opinion.
There is still the occasional thing that I need and can't get anywhere else. I do like Clark does and try to find a cheaper source or make it myself first. I made my own knob puller awhile back, but did purchase a Dremel router base from them. I got a Japanese pull saw elsewhere for substantially less.
My suggestion would be to ask for certain tools for a Christmas present. Or a gift card from Stew Mac. One year I got a set of high end chisels - one of my best presents ever.
I've bought quite a bit of stuff from Stew-Mac over the years and would like to say that "You get what you pay for." Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
For instance, I bought the fret saw/miter box combo years ago and while I have noting but praise for the miter box and dual scale fret templates as expensive as they are, the saw it's self was a total fail. Sure it has a nice handle and looks well built but the saw did not come sharp. Eventually I found a YouTube video on how to sharpen a hand saw and purchased a special file for that tooth size. I sharpened it and it now cuts a lot smoother - but it should have done that from the beginning if it was worth it's salt...
On the other hand, I was very pleased with the Offset Diamond Fret Crowning File, even if it was about $100. I had bought several cheaper files first and often ended up having them chatter across the frets and creating nasty grooves and a sloppy job. Although I think I have seen similar (if not the same) diamond crowning files on ebay for about half the price.
I also like Stew-Mac's lexan routing templates - thick, clear and very accurate.
Likewise, I am very happy with the Gauged Nut Slotting Files I bought from them, just superb... and you really can't find similar quality file much cheaper. Unfortunately they only sell those files for bass gauges any more and I have not heard good things about the double edged nut files that they also sell. These are actually Uo-Chikyu files and Grizzly sells a full set here:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Nut-Files-Set-of-8/T25458
You don't need a full set for doing CBG work but Grizzly also sells individual files for around $13 a piece. In fact I would advise taking a look at Grizzly's entire catalog of luthiery stuff:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/category/235
Steer clear of the fret crowning files tho... :/
As far as fret rockers, straight edges and more common and similar hand tools, check out these guys:
http://www.uaac.us/luthier-tools
Finishing supplies such as sandpaper, micromesh, lacquers and dyes can be found elsewhere at lower prices and w/o the $30 minimum order. For instance, instead of paying $19 for a roll 108' roll of double sided tape that you can will the remainder of to your grand children, you can get a 33' roll of the same exact stuff for less than $4 with free shipping from this ebay seller:
http://stores.ebay.com/FixFind?_trksid=p2047675.l2563
The direct link to the product is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191049269788?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&a...
Also consider that you can make your own tools... for instance, instead of buying this:
http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Maintenance/Knob_...
make your own from a pill vile, a bolt, a wing nut, a nut, a few washers and a piece of bent brass for a few bucks - I did.
Bottom line..., Stew-Mac sells some very specialized tools - some that are exclusively available from them that while expensive are for the most part high quality. But, you can find similar more common tools that are near/the same quality for cheaper elsewhere. Or, get creative and make your own.
I now only buy from them when I must. Pro luthiers can write all this off on their tax returns. You and I don't have that luxury.