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Favorite StewMac tools?
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=50209		 Page 2 of 2
Author:  Jeffrey L. Suits [ Mon Jan 22, 2018 1:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
pat macaluso wrote:
Shipping? Just get StewMaxx, you will be ordering stuff all the time. It will be like Christmas everyday!

Got to say I love the dragon rasp. And the setup gauge has been a game changer.


Agreed! Several of us have a collective account, more than pays for itself!

I got the finecut Dragon rasp when it was on sale, returned the roughcut.
Author:  Ken Jones [ Mon Jan 22, 2018 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
I’ve spent so many thousands with Stewmac, it’s ridiculous. Best products for the money include the string action card — I’ve bought at least five; the nut and saddle vise (not vice) — at $30-some bucks a no-brainer; the saddlematic, the flat two-sided gauged nut slot files, and their bench vises are also pretty great. Higher-dollar items I love include the saddle-slotting fixture, the dremel router base/rosette jig, and the dragon rasps. In the repair shop, tools we find indispensable include the offset fret-crowning file, the fret barber, fret tang nipper, and definitely the Bridge Saver. Tons of others.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Author:  Haans [ Tue Jan 23, 2018 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
Wasn't much that I needed from SM ever, but when I started building guitars again, I did buy the jig to cut saddle slots after installing the bridge on the almost finished guitar and of course, the Dremel router base. I liked the saddle jig, but it was just like most all their tools, overpriced.

Image

The jig did have some nice adjustable stops and made the slotting a breeze.
I also ended up liking their violin purfling cutter, but it was heavily modified and used for completely different purposes.
Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Tue Jan 30, 2018 1:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
The Stewmaxx should pay for itself by the end of Feb. Thanks for all the recommendations. I went in knowing that I needed a few things, wanted a few more and now my wish list is about $1700 deep. Taking a couple of Tom Bills courses didn't help...errr they did help...everything but my budget. I think I need a CPA.
Author:  dpetrzelka [ Tue Jan 30, 2018 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
I finally picked up a String Action Gauge - had been using calipers, feeler gauges and 6" rule - those each have their place, but this thing is good.

StewMax makes it way too easy to pick up all those little things you never knew you always needed...
Author:  Paul Micheletti [ Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
doncaparker wrote:
Their rabbeting bit and bearings. I like my LMI binding ledge tower and guitar cradle better than I like the StewMac ones (I've tried both), but the StewMac bit and bearings help me get the horizontal depth of cut just right.


Hi Don, I too like the LMI binding ledge tower, but I had trouble with the StewMac binding rabbet bit. The shaft is just too short to work for me with my Bosch Colt. That's a big bit and I want it seated well into the collet. What router are you using that allows the StewMac bit to work well with the LMI tower?

Paul M.
Author:  truckjohn [ Wed Jan 31, 2018 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
fingerstyle1978 wrote:
Image


$79 trillion dollars and worth every penny!!! Yeah... I went ahead and bought 2 while I was at it... ;) ;)
Author:  FL6 [ Wed Jan 31, 2018 7:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
Chris Pile wrote:
3 corner fret crowning file.... I have made a LOT of money with that one.


I was thinking of getting this file, is it not readily available at other tool stores or does the StewMac one trump them all?
Author:  dzsmith [ Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
truckjohn wrote:
fingerstyle1978 wrote:
Image


$79 trillion dollars and worth every penny!!! Yeah... I went ahead and bought 2 while I was at it... ;) ;)

Been priced like that for two weeks now.
Makes me wonder what is going on with them.
Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
FL6 wrote:
Chris Pile wrote:
3 corner fret crowning file.... I have made a LOT of money with that one.


I was thinking of getting this file, is it not readily available at other tool stores or does the StewMac one trump them all?[/quote

I have a bunch of files. This one is supposed to be designed for a specific purpose. It's not been delivered yet but my best bet is that if it wasn't worth it there would not be expereinced builders here chiming in, recommending it. That's one of the best things about a place like this- learn from other's mistakes before we make the same mistake ourselves. I think this holds most true to tools as much as anything else. Just my $0.02
Author:  doncaparker [ Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
Paul Micheletti wrote:
doncaparker wrote:
Their rabbeting bit and bearings. I like my LMI binding ledge tower and guitar cradle better than I like the StewMac ones (I've tried both), but the StewMac bit and bearings help me get the horizontal depth of cut just right.


Hi Don, I too like the LMI binding ledge tower, but I had trouble with the StewMac binding rabbet bit. The shaft is just too short to work for me with my Bosch Colt. That's a big bit and I want it seated well into the collet. What router are you using that allows the StewMac bit to work well with the LMI tower?

Paul M.


Paul—

I use a Bosch Colt. It works fine. I normally like to choke up on the shaft a bit more than this, too, but it has not caused me any problems as is.
Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
I saw a couple suggestions for the screwdriver set. They didn't change the StewMax special this morning (was the hard scraper for Jan) so I called to see what it will be for Feb. Turns out it's the screwdriver set at 35% off for the month. I didn't order one as I ordered a bunch of other stuff/upgrades that I need more for the current builds, maybe next paycheck. Just thought I'd throw that out there for anyone interested.
Author:  Pmaj7 [ Fri Feb 02, 2018 1:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Favorite StewMac tools?
Can't remember exactly how much I paid for my ultimate scraper before, but it seems like they raised the price $10 and then had a sale for $5 off. So, maybe better to buy their items before they go on sale!
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