saw choice

Saws, Sanders, Drill Press etc. nice to have -- must have
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mike-p
Posts: 335
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:37 am
Location: UK

saw choice

Post by mike-p » Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:59 pm

Hi all,

I am about to start my success kit based on an L-00, it's my first kit, I have very little woodworking experience and I'm very excited! For probably my first of many posts I have a saw question. I have been collecting tools together before I start as I know that if I'm on a roll one day with the build and I don't have the right tool I will think sod it and use whatever I have and make a mess! Anyway, I have only got as far as assembling the clamps and I have realised that the cheap coping saw I bought is rubbish and the very old B&D drillconvertedtojigsaw I have doesn't seem to have blades available for it any more; so I am considering a saw investment. I don't have the space or really the money for a band saw, am happy to use hand saws from a time point of view but if jobs are significantly easier and more accurate with a power tool then should i go for a jig or sabre saw? Before anyone suggests brands and models I will mention that I'm in the UK,

thanks all,
Mike

Dave Bagwill
Posts: 5955
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:44 pm

Re: saw choice

Post by Dave Bagwill » Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:10 pm

Mike - it's good to have you on the Forum! We all look forward to helping you as best we can. From personal experience I can tell you that, if you follow Ken's online manual, and as questions - a lot of them - you will learn a lot, get addicted to building, and make a very nice guitar right from the start.

I think the 'sod it' remark was kind of a tip-off that you're across the ditch. :-)

With the success kit, I think a good coping saw would do what you need. You might find that an inexpensive small hobby miter box and saw - the brand here is Zona - (US $10 or so) would be a big help in this and future builds.

If your budget allows for more, let us know and we can go further in recommendations.
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mike-p
Posts: 335
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:37 am
Location: UK

Re: saw choice

Post by mike-p » Mon Feb 18, 2013 5:51 pm

thanks Dave,

this forum seems really great, and although starting from nowhere when I opened my kit and inspected all the parts I really felt like my first guitar was going to be a decent instrument! I have small saw and box similar to the one pictured below and also a coping saw as mentioned above but I think it may be a piece of rubbish, the blade bent cutting the cnc'd parts out for the cam clamps. The thing I want to do next is cut out a workboard like the one that comes with the success kit (but which I asked Ken not to send as shipping a big piece of MDF across the water seemed pointless and wastefull.) So I've marked around the stencil and added an inch but now i need to cut it out, is my coping saw just rubbish and I should get a better one or would something like this be a worthwhile investment?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-BOSCH-PST ... 43b5f59d33

TonyinNYC
Posts: 1510
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:00 pm

Re: saw choice

Post by TonyinNYC » Mon Feb 18, 2013 7:15 pm

The jig saw will get the job done but you will have a bit of work to do refining the shape. However, that will be true of any saw you use.
A good tool to have is a router. Plus, with a flush cut bit, once you make one perfect template, you can use it to make molds. You will need a router for cutting binding channels anyway, so get get one!

TonyinNYC
Posts: 1510
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:00 pm

Re: saw choice

Post by TonyinNYC » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:41 pm

I realized my last post might not make as much sense to someone who is building their first guitar as it does to me.
So what I mean is, you can easily shape a thin piece of masonite or .25" plywood to the shape of your guitar. Then, using a flush cut, or pattern cutting bit, use your template to cut thicker copies from whatever material you like: MDF, plywood, cardboard(??), carborundum, diamonds, cow patties, vegetable cream cheese, empty beer cans, fish filets, toe nail clippings, you name it!!

You can use that template to make a mold, a bending form, or with a large router bearing, a work board! Then the good times will surely roll.
Welcome to the forum MikeP! I am a bit of a smart a$$ if you can't already tell. But the info I gave is good...except for the list of suitable materials!

Good luck with your build! I'm looking forward to pictures!

Dave Bagwill
Posts: 5955
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:44 pm

Re: saw choice

Post by Dave Bagwill » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:43 pm

Don't waste your time with cow patties. They don't work; I've tried, and I was using the freshest ones I could find.
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TonyinNYC
Posts: 1510
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:00 pm

Re: saw choice

Post by TonyinNYC » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:39 am

deadedith wrote:Don't waste your time with cow patties. They don't work; I've tried, and I was using the freshest ones I could find.
That must have been messy!

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