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Well I have a table saw. But try to go very slowly. Also I think a little before I make a pass on it.


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Uh oh...


But creative designs like that harp guitar are particularly important for fan frets, where taking the traditional shapes and rotating and slightly modifying them generally looks very un-classy to me (especially if you overdo the scale difference so the bridge is extremely angled, but the body is still symmetrical and just looks awkward)

I hate "blobby" bridge shapes. And clunky/inelegant body shapes.

It also bugs me when I see belly bridges with way too much fat toward the back edge. Only the part in front of the saddle needs to be tall. The rest can taper down to 1/8" or less at the back edge to save a lot of weight.

It pains me to see people build guitars with insufficient bracing in the upper bout. Or to build with perfect quartersawn woods in 45-50% RH (wastes the potential to make guitars that don't need humidity babysitting, because QS woods don't change as much dimensionally, so you can build dryer than with flatsawn to avoid drying cracks, and still have no trouble in high humidity).

Visually, armrest bevels torment my sense of symmetry. Just like the fan fret bridges, it looks very un-classy/newfangled. A practical musician's tool, but not a timeless piece of functional art like the classical guitar or violin. I've been trying to find a way to reconcile the form and function there, because I do very much hate sharp-edged guitars. But just heavily rounding the binding is soft enough for me personally.

Corners poking out beside the fingerboard on cutaways

Overly heavy or poorly balanced guitars (especially ones that want to fall forward, away from me while I'm playing)

I hate that shiny plastic looking finishes are the only acceptable finish for good guitars these days.

Yea, it's annoying and shiny plastic finish isn't easy to make with traditional materials. With 2K urethane it's easier and that's what major manufacturers use but they can't be repaired, and are often put on too thick. Every violin I have seen sold don't use shiny finishes.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I don't like big volutes but they are everywhere.

I don't like case top retaining straps that flip the wrong way when you close them. (But I know how to fix that now.)

I don't like that despite ear plugs, masks, and dust collection we still work in a pretty toxic environment.

Routers scare me.


Other that that everything 's OK

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I get freaked out shaping on a router table; Actually to the point that I will not do it any more. I had a 1" radius cove bit whirly-bird out of the router while I was holding a relatively small part for my harp ukulele. The bit, the wood and my hands were all lifted. I let go of one end of the wood and the bit continued on right up the wood into the side of my thumb. Luckily there is nothing important on the side of the thumb.

I was OK shaping on the table for awhile after that (get back on the horse and all of that), but I noticed on my last three guitars I choose other tools even when following a template. Now I use the router table only to route the truss rod slot.

I am scared of a table saw but still use one, but only to make classical guitar bridges.

I love looking at other peoples work and there is nothing that people do with a guitar that really annoys me or freaks me out.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I guess circular saws freak me out even more now.

http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6299

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I got my engineering degree at UT, loved the town but back in 78 there wasn't a lot of industry there like there is now,
Mike[/quote]

I grew up in Temple and graduated from UT. Moved away from Austin 11 1/2 years ago, usually go back once a year and it never ceases to amaze me how much that town grows in a year's time...every year.

I just hate the washing machine that takes up space in my workshop just where I would love to have a bending iron permanently set-up.

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

So I guess that settles it, UT graduates (and drop outs) build guitars

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Get a front loader, problem solved!

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I got my front loader in my "kitchen"/finishing room...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Mike

Hmmm, I personally like plain fretboards with no inlay, especially on classical. The only thing that is bothering me is that since I moved last August my new shop is still not up and running, but it's getting there.

Guitars: High end guitars with large dot inlays on the front of the fretboard.
Machines: I don't like router tables and poorly set up tools
Tools: I hate chisels that seem to have a magnetic attraction to my concrete floor- especially their cutting edges!

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

Johnparchem, have you ever come upon a rattlesnake? I mean they're just sitting there waiting on you to make the first move. The air goes away. You get this feeling in your stomach. The thought runs through your head "This could be it". Everything goes quiet. Then the snake has to ruin the effect by shaking his tail and buzzing. That's a long lead upto how I feel about having to use a circular saw. I mean my Tablesaw is scary. I own a circular saw. I put it away somewhere. I don't remember where. The only thing I do remember about it is I bought a very nice miter saw. You put the wood on the table,clamp it down if you like,push the button and "Viola" that quick it's cut in two. Who needs a circular saw.


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" You put the wood on the table,clamp it down if you like,push the button and "Viola" that quick it's cut in two. Who needs a circular saw."

Therein lies the problem. We get overconfident and complacent with our tools. Miter saws are relatively safe, but I know someone who was making quick repetitive cuts with one who accidentally placed his hand under the blade and cut off all his fingers and part of his hand.
The worst shop accident I've had so far was when I was using a belt sander, a tool I've used for years and never considered to be dangerous at all. In a matter of seconds it ground the end of my finger down to the bone (and then ground off the end of the bone). Most of it has grown back, including the nail, which the hand specialist said wouldn't. Still, it is surprising how much I miss that last 1/4 inch of finger when playing the guitar.
I use my table saws a lot, respect them, but don't fear them. I like the fact that I know where the blade is and can adjust the amount it sticks out of the table. If I had the money I would consider buying a Saw Stop. Radial arm saws and large shapers I like less.

Musical instrument wise, nothing really freaks me out. Some instruments people are building make me wonder what they are thinking, but I've build a few odd ball things myself.
Hand tool wise, I am surprised sometimes by how much more some people will pay for something marginally better than the standard stuff, but there have always been "gents" tools, so I guess it's really not that surprising after all.

Yup hiking near Tucsan. I was warned to stay on the path during the time of the year I was hiking. But there was this foundation of an old homestead that looked interesting off the path. My foot was going toward the step when I spied a rattlesnake right under my foot still unaware of my presence happily sunning. I am not so sure it would have liked the surprise of my foot. I quickly backed off, by the time I got back to the path it was rattling (a little late in my opinion).

It just is so easy to do something stupid. Luckily most of the time we get away with it.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Guitar cases with 25 latches...

ClayS, I agree Clay many accidents do happen. But usually not by themselves.
My Mitre Saw came with a clamp that I don't use. But just to prove what I said about accidents usually needing some help. I bought a planer/jointer. Not really having used one since wood shop in high school many years ago. Fifty or more at least. About the third time I used it (it has a little plastic key thing to start it). I never work with anything without gloves. I started the planer up only to realize I had my palm resting on the blades. I moved my hand when I felt it begin to move. I escaped with no injury whatsoever. I got lucky. But it reminds me of what a friend of mine told me when I first moved to the desert in Arizona. He said always watch where you put your hands,feet,and Buttt. As everything in the desert can bite you,sting you,or stab you. Some can do all three. So I think that would apply to working around power equipment as well.


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You think Rattlesnakes are bad? In Taiwan we have snakes that are 1000 times worse than rattlesnakes... like cobras...

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I've been sucked in a few times by the lure of crappy discount power tools that end up in the landfill in a short time. Never again.

Table saws......... couldn't live without one. Show them some respect and no problem. I have, when I was younger, taken a kick back by a 1/4" x 3/4" stick that just missed my junk and left a hefty bruise. If the blade starts smokin' and the machine starts slowing stop pushing and step to the side. I've worked with a lot of woodworkers over the years and the only one I knew with missing digits was a guy who drank too much.

To be honest woodworking is fairly new to me. I've done a little over the years but not enough to write home about. So I do have apprehensions about using them. I approach them the way I would approach that Rattlesnake. With caution and death on my mind. His. Tai Fu the only good snake is a dead snake. That's what they used to say about us humans of Native American lineage. I am beginning to enjoy my power tools. The one I like the best is my thickness sander. I built it myself with help from a set of plans off the web. Plus a friend who does the physical work I can no longer do. I have had stuff thrown back at me though. Trying to push it too hard. But I'm learning.


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There are lots of tall grasses in Taiwan, particularly in the mountains away from cities. One advise is ALWAYS beat the grass as you are walking through it, if any snakes are present they will run. If you stick your foot through the grass the snake will bite in defense. Snakes here are 1000x deadlier than rattlesnakes... like cobras, krails, etc. are almost quick death if an antivenom isn't administered quickly.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

When I tell someone "I build acoustic guitars", and they say "I build guitars too" only to find out they make electric guitars. Nothing against electrics, but making acoustics vs electrics is a whole different can of worms. I won't get into my reasons, but I think most of you know where I'm coming from.

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Chris Alvarado
www.ChrisAlvaradoLive.com
www.Driftwood-Guitars.com