List of hand tools I use in building electric guitars
What do you need in your shop in order to build a complete guitar body?
Here's a full list of the tools I use. If you see something on the list and you don't already own it, consider purchasing that item. None of these tools are "fluffy" or "nice to have." Each play an important part in the construction and finishing of a guitar body. I've attempted to make this as exhaustive as possible.
- Hand saw, flush trim or "Japanese" style
- Chisels in various widths
- Screwdrivers in Phillips #2 and #1 sizes and straight edge
- Long Phillips #2 and #1 screwdrivers, at least 8 inches long
- Tape measures in fractional units and metric if you choose to work in metric
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
- Mallet
- Table saw
- Band saw
- Drill press and fluted bits
- Forstner bits
- Wood vice
- Digital calipers
- 6" metal rules in fractions and/or metric
- Router and bits
- Templates for body shape, pickups, control cavities, pockets
- Spindle sander
- Disc sander
- Random orbit sander, 5" size or 6" size
- Airbrush
- Airgun
- Compressor, hoses, air drying filters
- Compass
- Pencils
- Pens
- Awl
- Center finding drill bits
- Jig saw
- Router table and bits
- Lighting
- Allen (hex style) wrenches in fractional and metric sizes
- Cabinet scraper
- Metal files
- Wood rasps
- Soldering station
- Shrink tubing
- Heat sink clips
- Solder 60/40 rosin core
- Masking tape in various widths and stickiness levels.
TOOLS NEEDED FOR FRET WORK
For refretting a guitar fingerboard, more specialty tools are needed. However, I will share some tricks that you can use to accomplish great fret work without spending too much money.
- Triangle file with one edge sanded smooth
- Sanding beam
- Radius sanding block
- Stick-on sand paper in 220 grit
- Fret press (this is a simple press available from Harbor Freight or other suppliers, modified to work with a brass caul that fits the radius of your fretboard.