When I first started I had no tools to speak of either, I used to take my tonewood to my local timber yard and bung them a couple of quid to plane up my joints ready for gluing. Many will still do this for you.......I even used to get them to bandsaw my strange body shapes and rough out my necks!It saves time and money in the short term. Now I work at a college with a fully equipped woodwork shop so I don't have to worry quite as much!!

foonting wrote:
Now I work at a college with a fully equipped woodwork shop so I don't have to worry quite as much!!
So, Ash... how far away from me do you live?

...and welcome to the forum!

Paul.

Your enthusiasm is amazing, making rackets as well now:lol:

Dragondreams wrote:
foonting wrote:
Now I work at a college with a fully equipped woodwork shop so I don't have to worry quite as much!!
So, Ash... how far away from me do you live?

...and welcome to the forum!

Paul.Just a good ole down south Essex redneck boy.....Well I live there anyway!

For jointing shorter pieces of stock, such as guitar soundboards and backs, I use an old Stanley #5 1/2 and a shooting board. It takes almost no effort with a really sharp edge and a well tuned plane, and it will produce superior edges for gluing.

I bought a couple of Anant planes (a 3 and 5), and I think the quality was so so. They can be tuned to perform OK, but they must be considered kits out of the box. On mine the sole needed flattening, the frog seating was rough, the chip breaker needed work, the stamped metal parts were flimsy etc. If you are going to put that much work into getting a properly working tool I think it is a better idea to start with one with more potential, such an older Stanley or Record from the flea market or eBay.

Arnt wrote:
If you are going to put that much work into getting a properly working tool I think it is a better idea to start with one with more potential, such an older Stanley or Record from the flea market or eBay.
Hi Arnt
Thanks for that. I made a shooting board the same day I got the Anant - then, as you rightly say, had to spend some time fettling the plane.

Since then, I've picked up some old bargain planes from eBay. Despite looking battered, the older tools have a certain "feel" to them. I used the shooting board and one of the bargain Stanleys to successfully joint the walnut that I want to use as a top on my first complete build.

Paul.