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Private member DiscussionShop Organisation

Storage rug/cushion suggestions

Yesterday a friend and I built this wall mounted cabinet for repairs that are drying or need to get out of the way. Does anyone have suggestions for material to pad the shelf bottoms with? I’ve used carpet in the past but am curious what others use. Thanks!

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Private member
I have the same question. I've been trying to find the video where Doug Proper talks about his shop and what he uses but I can't find it. He uses a faux leather from Amazon I think. I'm curious about…
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Tuners

Maybe a dull topic but I just happened to find this Conn Strobotuner at an antique shop for a "decent" price. Works great, not sure if I'll use it in place of the peterson strobe app on my ipad but in conjunction for certain jobs . What do you all use as your main bench tuner?

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Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Soundhole Clamps... Recs Pls

What size do I need for gluing acoustic bridges (5"? 6"?) and is there cost effective source for these? Thx!

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Private member DiscussionCNC

CNC errors

I'm fairly new to CNC and am attempting to set up for a fretboard carve. I'm using a one year old ShopBot Desktop Max. This is the first I've found a problem like this. I made some practice blanks and thought I had everything the way I wanted it until I measured me fret distances. Using calipers from the nut to the center for the first fret slot I get 1.399" and I'm expecting 1.4346. I brought up the file and used the measuring too…

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8 replies
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Private member
9 times out of ten these issues aren’t the software it’s the CNC itself or order of operations. Something might be binding on your machine causing one of the 3 axis to be out of whack. Im assuming you…
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Getting perfectly flat without a jointer

Hello -- I am trying to joint a Tele-style mahogany neck blank. I have a Metabo planer in good condition, but no jointer. I secured the c. 40 mm thick blank to a flat plywood sled and shimmed it well. It's hot-glued in place, and absolutely no rocking from any corner or edge. But as I plane it down, I still have about 1 mm difference from one end of the blank to the other when I put a straightedge on the surface (see photo, with backlig…

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Private member
I feel this is a big missing element in my workshop (for guitar making at least). But where I live all tools, and especially machines, are a good 2x the price in the US or UK. So I have to think long…
Private member DiscussionShop Organisation

Workshop Starting Kit & Organization

Hey there fellow Looths! I'm still learning and just starting my luthier journey, but I'm serious about it and want to design and build my own workshop. I have space for a 4mx4m (13x13ft) workshop. I know it's kinda tiny but I think it can do the trick since I want to work analog/by hand for most of the tasks. I plan to buy a drill press and a band saw. That's all for 'the big machinery'. I'm just curious if people have tips or 'things to…

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Private member
I personally don't like anything in the middle of the room because I will run into it(my stool is the only thing that floats around the room), and with such small space you need room to move. When I b…
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Sharpening System

Good morning group! I just joined The Looth Group today. I'm wondering what folks are currently using to sharpen chisels, plane blades, violin maker's knives. Is there a jig you would suggest? What stones, or are you using something better, easier? I know sharpening is a whole world unto itself but I'm looking to up my game. Currently using Japanese water stones and an inexpensive one wheel guide. I'd like to do better. Thanks! Spidey

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I've converted a few people to this: https://taytools.com/products/complete-drill-press-sharpening-system-bundle?_pos=1&_sid=b9fc94629&_ss=r To be honest I think this is far superior to any other method…
Private member Discussion3D Printing

3D scanner

Anyone use a 3D scanner to make models for printing, or CNC? I've noticed a number of inexpensive scanners on the market that appear to be an able to scan with fine detail and accuracy. I've wondered if they could be used to scan a guitar neck, or arch top mandolin plate to then cut on a CNC after tweaking in a CAD program.

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Private member
That's kind of what I thought. The scan comes out dirty and needs more manipulation in software which can be more work than drawing it in the first place. I was curious as there are now numerous ads…
Private member Discussion3D Printing

3D Printed Neck Shims?

I have searched the forums and was not able to find any discussion about 3D printing neck shims. This made me wonder if with the proper density of infill, may be a viable option. Or is this just taboo? appreciate hearing others thoughts on this

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Ian Davlin
One thing you might try is changing the orientation to have it on the side. You might print it as a block of 5 so it self supports and then split after. I bet @member might…
Private member Discussion3D Printing

Bambu Super Tack Plate

I posted a while ago how great the Bambu Super Tack plate is. I take it back, it's great to start, but the bottoms started coming out warped on the last 3 prints. Doesn't look like I'm alone with this issue and some people have had replacements sent to them so I put in a support ticket to see if I can get a replacement.

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Stock response from Bambu about bed temps, brims, etc with a link to their wiki. I'm not going to pursue it but I'm also not going to use this plate anymore. It seemed like a consumable part the secon…
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Airbrush Setup

Hi all. Anyone have a suggestion for airbrush system setup? I've got Ian's recommendation of the PointZero airbrush. Wondering if anyone has recommendations for compressor and regulator/oil and water trap? Thanks in advance.

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Private member Discussion3D Printing

PETG Glue

Just wondering what people are using for gluing PETG? I had the unfortunate realization that some parts I decided to print in PETG from makerworld needed to be glued. The super glues I have didn't work and then everything else close by basically said "not for use on pe". I found people saying PVC primer worked so I grabbed some at the hardware store and left some test parts clamped overnight. Rock solid this morning but it definitely ne…

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Private member
I usually try to design with mechanical connections for petg. If it requires something that needs to be glued, I use abs. ABS has more options for gluing and can be vapor smoothed.
Private member Discussion3D Printing

Spaghetti

I have been adoring my new P1S But last week it started getting clogged or something. It would get a few mm up and then no more extrusion. On these prints I was using old off brand filament. I cleared the clog a few times and it kept happening. I bought some new Bambu filament and tried again today with the nozzle unclogged. And one print finished but doesn’t look so great on top. And the second print didn’t “clog” but it is spaghetti. I…

24 replies
24 replies
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Private member
This IS the trying another roll. Third roll trying. Just using bambu slicer. And for this benchy i am printing it from the stock filer on the sd card. What is the calibration?
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Broken hex wrench piece drill jig

I just opened a repair shop and the first repair was to remove a broken 1/8" hex wrench ball end from the truss rod nut of a Turner RB4 Renaissance Bass. I read of all sorts of theories on how to extract/remove. None of them had recorded actual attempts of the theories. There's probably others on here but I haven't found them. The ball end was loose and mangled at the rear of the nut sleeve. I tried fairly benign methods first. Heat…

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Private member
Slick move. What a clever setup, well done!
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Foam Cutters For Neck Pull

Hey! For those who use the foam cutters, which ones are you buying? They have a "luthier" set with a cranked up price and a variac attached. I have heard folks say the cutters burn up after a while so is it worth buying the more expensive ones? Thanks!

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Private member
I’ve used these for the past couple years with good results without the variable temp control. I’ve had to replace them once after getting the wire stuck and gunked up with hide glue. Keep them clean…
Private member Discussion3D Printing

Outer/Inner vs. Inner/Outer

tl;dw - switch to Outer Walls first, then inner walls. In orca/bambu studio, the video says to do inner/outer/inner. It also mentions the travel distance threshold in Retraction settings - setting it to 1 or 2mm; I didn't quite understand what that accomplishes.

1 reply
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Ian Davlin
great find !