This is a great video, we definitely want to see more essential tools. However, I’d also like to see a video that was “luthier tools I don’t use.” This video would highlight tools that you thought would be a great idea but ended up just sitting in the drawer for more practical tools.
Almost every "tool" you listed is in my model railroader tool kit. But the hint of putting heat shrink on the jaws of the extra hand is great. I used to use a scrap of extra thin leather.
Chris, I've learned a lot from you over the years when it comes to specialized luthier tasks, but also on raiding the dollar store for certain tools. Turns out we have those exact same white microfibre faux fur cloths here in Canada, which I use all the time. While I'm now a firm believer of the pink eraser as a contoured surface sanding block, I also recently picked up some whiteboard erasers which I've been using for level sanding roundovers - they work great. For all the tips & tricks you've offered me and all of us, thought you may be interested in that one.
Regarding erasers, I've got some questions if you may. I've noticed that there are 2 kinds of erasers: the harsher ones that leave some dust behind typically used to erase ink, and the softer gummy ones typically used to erase pencil, and these ones may gum up some residue on the working surface, eventually leaving some of its color behind. What practical applications do you have for these erasers? What kind of sanding and what grit equivalent are they? Thanks!
screwdriver style hex drivers are super nice to have. .05mm, 1.5mm, and 2mm. Those full sets get to be annoying pulling out the full set every time you need one of the little guys.
Oh man did I learn the hard way why I needed that special tool for tightening the 3 way pickup selector on gibsons. I was working on my hollow body and bent the threaded ring trying to get it off because I didn't have the right tool... Ended up having to cut the threaded ring off with a dremel to get the switch out. So after much frustration I ended up buying that tool and a new switch
The magnifying visors with LED lighting that you show only cost about $8 at the local job lot chain store. They're OK, but the lenses are plastic and they scuff and scratch easily, and they don't give you quite as much magnification as you would expect (5x doesnt mean 5 times normal size), and you may have to use the inner 2nd lens (which is hinged and flips down) plus the little round lenses in front in order to get sufficient magnification for small and fiddly jobs. They're also not the most comfortable fit, 6 AAA batteries make them a bit heavy, and they make my forehead sweat. Buy an Opti-Visor instead, for around $35 to $40. The lenses are optical quality glass, and if it doesn't include a 5x lens (some sets include just 1.5x and 3x), plan on buying a 5x lens separately. The OptiVisor is much more comfortable to wear and the fit-adjustment mechanisms are better as well. They even make 7x and 10x lenses for closeup work. Almost any ten-dollar LED headband flashlight, stuck on with velcro, will work better than OptiVisor's own accessory flashlight .
The absolute best wire stripper for small wire, that won’t take a single strand of wire away, is and old fashioned cigarette lighter. I only use strippers for bigger wire, like in speaker cabinets
Great channel! Great tips! Doing a clean out of my grandparents' stuff, I found a set of crochet hooks. Now they have a second life in my guitar work tool kit. I reach for these quite a bit for various things. One is getting those pesky stuck string ends out of cheap Strat trem blocks. Always looking forward to your videos. Cheers!
My only issue with those "helping hands" devices is that the base is too small and lightweight and it tends to tip over. I epoxy glued mine to a piece of metal about 5 or 6" square, but a piece of plywood the same size would work, just to make it less tippy. SOme helping hands devices have a magnifying glass built-in, which can be helpful, but makes it even more likely to tip over easily. I personally prefer wearing a set of magnifying visors; the local job-lot store chain sells a cheap set of magnifying visors for only $8, with plastic lenses and built-in LED lights ( kinda bluish light), and they're OK, but I greatly prefer the OptiVisor brand, which have optical glass lenses (availability in different magnification strengths) and are more comfortable to wear. I Velcro'd an LED headlamp onto mine.
The wire stripper looks useful as did the erasers. Ordered the stripper ! I gave up on Exacto type knives a long time ago and now use "mold knives" which are nothing more than the large scalpel handle and non sterile scalpel blades. Mold knives are relatively cheap as are the blades. Contenti sells them as do other places on line.
I use several types of Olfa knife, the ones where you snap the blade off periodically to have a fresh, sharp tip to work with. These things are awesome and the blades are surgically sharp. The 18 and 25 mm width tools can be obtained with a thumbwheel for locking the blade down tightly. There are other knives and blades that look similar, but the Olfa blades are made in Japan, not Asia, of high carbon steel, and especially if you get the black anodized blades which cost a couple dollars more per 5 pack you will be amazed just how scary-sharp they are. I have other types of razor knives and utility knives, and various blades including Lennox and Bosch and so on, but truth be told I never use them anymore, not since I got the Olfa knives!
