Saying that, I’m loathe to use ebony because they are such an endangered species (the growth rate of the hard heartwood is incredibly slow) so if I want the ebony look I’ll try Rocklite Ebano first. I have a sundari…   Read more»

@boo most ebony species are considerably harder than rosewood. 

If you want to do fancy inlays, ebony is probably a better choice than rosewood, the bits you have to fill won’t be as visible.
 

All those little bits and pieces that come with a new tool, they all get carefully put away “somewhere safe”. @tv101 I really don’t know why physicists spend millions on telescopes and LIGO to observe faraway black holes or billions…   Read more»

@darrenkingPerhaps the best argument is that you can achieve better consistency.Chris of Highline guitars is of the opinion that using a fret press, along with precision at every other stage of fretting, means he can achieve a consistency which means…   Read more»

@boo, on a more serious note, I haven’t followed every post so you may have answered his already. Is that a mist coat so you could see where you’ve sanded.

Why do you weirdos  guys call it a skip?  @mattbeels isn’t it obvious? 😀 Etymology The origins of calling a rubbish cart a skip (most often found in Australia, New Zealand and the UK) come from the word skep, used to refer to a basket. Skep itself…   Read more»

I’m not going to paint anyone’s gear in something they aren’t going to like just for my amusement.  @booBut what about for our amusement? Don’t we count? Stop being so selfish and break out the sparkles!!😉

@boo this may help, it’s from the Stewmac manual.Really not much modification needed, if you start with these https://www.tooled-up.com/facom-hinged-tip-slip-joint-locking-pliers/prod/212012/

I can’t believe how expensive those things are, it is just a modified pair of pliers. This is pretty much the current model, minus the cauls and the Stewmac l…[Read more]

Ordered.I think I’ll have to build one of the instruments in tribute, don’t know what I’ll do with an 8 string bass though, haven’t even learned to play a 4 string yet!

There seems to be a hell of a lot of specialist tools that just aren’t necessary @tejAvoid watching Stewmac videos with Dan Erlewine. They have a tool or jig for every problem you ever thought of, every problem you hadn’t…   Read more»

The two main advantages I can see with a fret press are the noise, and that it’s possible to achieve a consistency which will require less fret dressing.Hammers are cheaper, take up less space in the workshop, and also are…   Read more»

You can always make a shiny surface satin or matt by sanding it back with some very fine wet and dry or a Scotch pad.  @booThe problem with doing that on a guitar is the player basically polishes it every…   Read more»

yup – I’m just looking for some suitable air-powered brushes now

@tv101Ask Darren to design one, it’ll be CNCd out of 18mm plywood, but really ingenious.

@darrenkingA set of guide bushes for your router is a sensible purchase anyway, so I don’t even see requiring them for this jig as an extra cost.

@tv101, me too. Especially as I currently have a huge stock of foam brushes!

@cliveoThey’re also only stocking the gloss at the moment. Brite Tone is also available in satin and matt

@tv101Why guess? They tell you

• Easy to Use – Can be Brushed or Sprayed. Self leveling.

@boo, they’re also selling Crystalac’s liquid mica metallics and colour shift liquid mica for mixing into the topcoat.