Official Luthiers Forum!

For any of you that have the LMI work holder to hold the guitar body while you work, how well do you like it? I'm thinking of getting one but I wanted some real world experience. You can pm or email me if you'd rather not post.

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jw ( o)===:::

Just to add on, how well do they work with arched bodies (or do they?)


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After hearing rave reviews about the Festool Vacuum System and hearing poor reviews for the LMI vacuum holder (which has apparently been redesigned for the worse), I have sprung for the Festool. It costs more, but as the saying goes, you can cry when you buy it or you can cry every time you use it. The LMI unit seen in Robbie Obrien's videos is the older version.

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It will probably be alright.

Many thanks Greg.

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jw ( o)===:::

Hey Joe,
Where you going with that paint gun in your hand?

Our pal John has one, give him a shout.

Happy New Year!

Steve

Happy New Year Steven! I didn't know John had one, I will reach out to him. Thanks!

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jw ( o)===:::

Who cares I just wanted to wish my bro Joe a very Happy Holidays!

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Ann Arbor Guitars

That's my favorite song - Happy Holidays Steven!!!!

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Have any of you put together your own vacuum clamp / workholder?
What vacuum source are you using?

I've been contemplating setting up for both a work holder, and for vacuum clamping bridges, etc.

Several years ago, I built a vacuum system based on the design and parts available here:

http://www.veneersupplies.com/pages/DIY ... Press.html

It worked the first time the switch was flipped and has been trouble free since. The optional foot switch is a must for convenience since it allows the instrument to be repositioned very quickly. The clamping fixture is easily made out of plastic and foam tape that is available from the same website and lives under the workbench unless in use, when it is held in the parrot vise:



The fixture gets rotated in the vise to work on sides. I also use the system to hold instruments to a carriage that slides around on the bench top under the binding channel machine.

I have used the LMI one quite a bit. I have had it mar a french polished finish, but it could have been me not waiting long enough (i waited a couple of days) for it to cure. My worst experience was tripping over the hose and pulling it out of the fixture. Luckily I have padded floors.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Mine is basically the same as David. Did you radius the plastic?
I'd like to see that!

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Pat

Yes, the edges were radiused with a rounding-over bit in a router.

I initially tried to use a larger area within the vacuum footprint but this didn't work out given the 15' radius of my backs. There was just too much convexity to allow the backs to seal to the tape all the way around. The partial clamping area provides plenty of grip. The blue thing is a piece of wood covered in blue tape that acts as a spacer to keep the otherwise unsupported end of the instrument from rocking. The feet are plastic furniture feet attached to long stems made from #10 machine screws. They can be threaded up or down to level the instrument then locked with a wing nut on the underside of each screw.







I make only ukes so everything I do is in miniature!

Cool, thanks! I meant radius the dish to accommodate the back, but I guess the foam in enough.

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Pat

Okay, John R. likes his so it seems there is an even love/hate rating going so far.

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jw ( o)===:::

I've got the old version of the lmii work holder and love it! I'm not sure I'd buy the new one though.

M

Joe, I have the old LMII holder. It works well, but I wouldn't use it for anything with finish on it. What I've found with the LMII clamp is that the gasket can shrink and then pull open while you're using it and dump the guitar. Ask me how I know. So my solution was to cut the gasket a little fat, dab a little silicone on the ends and let it set up and keep the ends together.

Good info! Thanks David!

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jw ( o)===:::

I didn't read all the previous posts, but I love mine. I have had it for 10 or 12 years so im not sure what version it is but it works awesome.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks Lance! It looks as though the majority of replies both public and the private ones as well have been positive.

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jw ( o)===:::

I think the new LMII one looks alright...it's a carbon copy of one I designed and built a few of for a group of builders in Australia around ten years ago. It's definitely designed for strength over grace. Not exactly my most innovative design ever - took an hour - so no foul.

I think DavidI has the right idea, though : if you want an industry-tough tool, then that's one thing, but for the most part you can make anything that uses vacuum out of cheap plastic, garbage bags, vinyl shower curtains, and weather-stripping. I will say it's worth getting good gasket material (the round stuff is by far the best and bigger is usually better) from a company like Allstar Adhesives, but all closed-cell neoprene foam round cord is pretty much the same stuff (comes in soft and hard, both work alright).

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Bob, would you mind sharing your design? We have a machine shop in the maker space I belong to, and that could be a great project.