Shopmade Luthier Tools

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Look forward to it.

- Rick M

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Mojose! Mi jam vidis vian zimbalonon, sed ĉu vi iam faris gitaron aŭ violonon? Se ne, ĉu vi intencas fari ilin aŭ nur ripari ilin?

- Chris McDowell

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Series Intro

I'm starting to gather together and make a few tools that will be dedicated to lutherie, that is, the building and repair of stringed instruments which are usually made of wood. Having a dedicated lutherie kit will just make my life easier than walking back and forth in the shop grabbing the needed tool. Many of these will likely end up in a stand, box, or drawer for easy access while doing repairs.

From the sound of things, learning to re-hair violin bows and the like is a good, lucrative goal, so these first tools will be generally for that purpose. Some will have a wood component, but a few might not.

Watch this page. As I go, I'll link to each tool in a list here:

- Blunt pusher
- Bow vise
- Bridge fitting jig (cello)
- Bridge fitting jig for violin
- F-hole Cleat clamps
- Flat file
- Hair gauge
- Hair gauge (new and improved model)
- Hook
- Knife
- Neck clamps for Violin, cello, etc.
- Pick
- Rotary File/Chamfer tool
- Scraper knife
- Small sound post setting tool
- Sound hole clamps
- Sound post plier
- String jack for cello
- String jack for violin
- Tiny chisel
- Tiny rat tail file
- Violin Crack Clamp
- Violin opening tool

- Etc.

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

I can handle this file!

One of the tools I'm going to need for my (hopefully) career in instrument repair is a common file. Judging by the photos of appropriate tools I've found on the internet, this one should work well. It was a spare I had, possibly one I got from my dad's estate. I cleaned it up and decided to put a handle on it.

I grabbed a scrap of walnut and cut it to appropriate length. Then I drilled a hole in one end to accept the tang of the file. Then I drove the file into the hole and cracked the wood. No worries! I took the file out, rounded off the hole end of the handle and found a piece of plumbing to use as a ferrule. I put the file back into the hole. It stuck and feels solid.

Then I rounded and shaped the handle with a small block plane, rasp, and my random orbit sander. The cracks stayed, but that's okay. The handle is solid and everything looks like a pre-antiqued old-timey tool. I gave the handle a good wipe down with boiled linseed oil for the finish.

Lesson I learned: install the ferrule BEFORE driving in the file!

(I should really make handles for the remaining collection of my files AND make a convenient place to put them that is NOT in a pile in my cabinet.)

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

Click to expand...

Dave10 said:

Tiny chisel/scraper

Even though this is technically a chisel, it is used principally as a scraper to get hardened glue out of the small wells in a violin bow where the ends of the hair hank are anchored. I fashioned the blade of this chisel from the Phillips screw driver 'blade' of an old, low quality pocket knife. It was not a genuine Swiss Army knife, but a bad, cheap knockoff. The blades loosened up after a few years and the knife lived in my tool box for 'just in case'. I generally always carry a pocket knife, so I didn't need it.

After mounting the blade in the rough handle I ground it to shape with my belt grinder. The ease of which it ground concerns me, but if it proves unsatisfactory, I'll just make a better one out of an old drill bit like I saw on a Stumpy Nubbs/Mustache Mike video not long ago. I have a few old paddle bits that I could use for that.

The handle is a scrap of walnut and the ferrule is a plumbing compression ring. I finished it with the usual boiled linseed oil.

One more down.

Check out the other luthier tools I've made here:[link]

Click to expand...