The parlor guitar

Did some more work on the parlor guitar today. Did more planing on the top and back, the top to near final thickness. I've never been too good with sharpening scrapers so cheated and got out my orbital sander and got on nice smooth surface on both sides. The next step will be routing a slot for the rosette. I also made up some top and back braces. I'm going to put an x-brace on this one rather than the ladder bracing that I originally planned...a bit more complicated but will give greater longitudinal stiffness to the top. Also did more planing of the back. I wish now that I had planed the plates when they were still rectangular as it would have made the job easier. You live and learn...

Chisels

Some of my chisels. On the left is a gouge that I haven't used much. Next across is my trusty Supercraft half-inch chisel that I use a lot. It wasn't expensive and I love it. Next is an old Footprint quarter-inch that is good for cleaning nut slots and the like. Next is a Marples 1/8th inch chisel and then a Taiwanese 1/4 inch that is very handy. The last two are a small gouge and lastly is a firmer chisel that is good for rough work. All of these I have found to be useful for different purposes.

Tools

Above are some of my specialist tools. On the left is a jeweller's saw I bought from Stew Mac's. It takes very fine blades and is for cutting thin material for inlays. Next to it is a pair of are flush-cutting pliers for trimming fret ends. A very useful tool. Next along is a peg shaver for wooden tuning pegs. This one is sized for Viola pegs. Above it is a fine-tooth rasp, great for any wood shaping work. Next to the rasp are some nut slotting files, essential if you want to make a nut, needle files just don't do a good enough job. At top right is a set of digital calipers. If you want to do any lutherie work or any fine woodwork you need this kind of precision, in my opinion.