General Resources

 

Listed below are various resources that the New England Luthiers have used in making instruments. Their inclusion in the list does not constitute an endorsement. They are included only as references.

 

CNC

1. Carvewright CNC for home use
2. Luthier Tool CNC and router supplies for luthiers
3. Precise Bits CNC supplies for luthiers, especially fret slot cutting bits
4. Richards Micro-Tool Inc great source of end mills

Industrial Supply - Parts, Tools and Equipment

1. Admiral Metals Metal Source is their outlet store in Woburn
2. Enco your source for quality machine tools and industrial supplies
3. Grainger you name the industrial supply, they have it
4. MSC If Grainger doesn't have, try MSC
5. McMaster-Carr and if MSC...

 

Information

1. Abrasives Reference Sheet Compare sand paper grit with micromesh with pumice with...
2. Equivalent Moisture Content Table How dry is that wood?
3. Sagitta Reference Sheet Also known as a versine measurement. If you work with curves, you need this

 

Finishing Materials & Equipment

1. Guitar ReRanch source of nitrocellulose lacquer in cans - superb tutorial on refinishing and the discussion board is very informative
2. Klass Kote a "Superior Quality" Epoxy Coating System
3. Sata paint spray guns and more
4. shellac.net highest-quality dry shellac flake at discount prices
5. shellacfinishes.com excellent source of dry shellac flake at discount prices (NEL 10% discount). Also, a video available on how to French Polish.

 

Miscellaneous

1. Dust Collection An amazing explanation of how dust collectors work and how to improve the efficiency of your own shop dust collection system
2. Smartflix How-to DVDs. Many Guitar making and repair DVDs
3. Joewoodworker.com If you vacuum clamp, this vacuum press is a must.
4. Quality Vakuum Products Great instructional videos and jigs. Right here in Concord, MA.

 

Specialty - Hard To Find Parts & Materials

1. Blues Creek Guitars Acoustic parts, tools and many other items
2. Minco Heating Blankets heating blankets
3. Moses Graphite graphite guitar parts
4. Rare Earth Magnets Specialize in providing strong high-quality neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets at low prices
5. Rescue Pearl everything pearl
6. Rio Grande world's largest suppliers to the jewelry industry
7. Small Parts hardware store for researchers and developers
8. Strings by Mail excellent source of strings
9. Chrislin Trading High quality bone from China, specialty sizes, great prices

 

Woodworker Supply Stores

1. Hock Tools The best plane blades and violin knives available
2. Japan Woodworker High quality chisels, saws & gouges
3. GarretWade High quality tools, materials & books.
4. Rockler High quality tools, materials & books.
5. Woodcraft High quality tools, materials & books.
Rockler and Woodcraft have been kind enough to loan us their shop spaces for lectures & demos.

 

 

Various resources that the New England Luthiers have used in making instruments