Official Luthiers Forum!

This is mainly directed at the Aussie guys on the forum but maybe some of our friends from Canada and the US may have some suggestions.

I just ordered two sticks of Menzerna compound from Stewmac. Total cost about $60AUD. Shipping was $67AUD

Trouble is that places like LMI and Stewmac have too much good stuff in their catalogue and I simply can't help myself.

Shipping really kills us over here as a lot of the specialised tools and products simply aren't available in Oz.

I'm looking for nitro here at the mo and the only supplier I can find is Mirotone. I've used their products in the past and they've held up well. Have any of you guys used Mirolac for your guitars? (again we can't get McFadden's or Behlen's because they can't be shipped)

Zinsser products are available here but not the Bullseye seal-coat that I want.

They have an aerosol shellac which seems like it might be good for sealing rosettes. Has anyone tried it?

What alternatives are you gents using? BTW I definitely want nitro.

Anyway enough of my Monday morning rant.

I'm trying to source as much as I can locally and maybe we can share a few ideas on suppliers here.

I haven't posted any as I don't want to step on any sponsors toes so maybe some guidance from some of you Brazilian Rosewoodians would be appreciated here as to whether this is appropriate.

Cheers

Bobbob_connor39040.7200578704

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

$67 for shipping seems a little steep, depends on what your purchase weighs I guess. The big red books weigh a ton and shipping was a killer . A couple of back and side sets usually costs about $US50 via USPS air express. Don't bother surface shipping the wait is agonising (Don that mahogany is still on a boat somewhere almost 3 months now- funny 'cause I think the record for solo rowing across is less than that)

There are a few places in Oz that sell lmii/stewmac stuff, but they mark-up their prices on top of shipping so it usually ends up cheaper buying it from the US.

I try to only have one heavy item per shipment, kinda spreads out the cost. I think it pays to check out lots of different techniques for any given task and then pick one that lets you get away with the minumum amount of specialised lmii/stewmac tools.

Good brazilian is rare as rocking horse kaka 'round these parts. All of the stuff I've seen locally is flat sawn stumpwood garbage. The good stuff is very hard to get without breaking laws, personally I won't do it.

Try Durobond in brookvale (Sydney) they have a nitro guitar lacquer that I haven't tried, they made it in consultation with Gilets. Gilets also have a source for rattlecan nitro. You should give them a call, contact details at www.giletguitars.com.au.

Shipping, taxes and handling costs, when buying stuff from the US, is a big deal here in the UK as well. We can almost just expect to double the cost of any order. A $100 back and side set becomes a $200 one by the time it reaches my front door. But sometimes the US is the only source, and the cost is still worth it when you have the wood in your hands.

We do have some great supply houses here in the UK though, David Dyke, Touchstone, Timberline and of course Madinter and the other European suppliers will usually have what we want and the cost is usually much lower due to shipping and other costs being much lower.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Bob I agree with what Paul has said re the shipping but would add, only ever use USPS.

The other players are into "value adding" and can be very slippery when it comes to ramping things up over the non-declaration threshold in order to attract duty. Then, after bringing you consignment to the attention of customs, they will charge you even more to act as your self appointed customs agent.

This can near double the cost of the total order and they will hold your shipment ransom until you pay, so be careful. If a vendor won't ship USPS, I will not buy.

Smaller stuff, you should look on Ebay USA and request shipping via USPS Global Priority FLATRATE Envelope. These are quit large with a maximum weight of 4 lb and are only $9.50 USD for a 8 day service (they will tell you 4 to 6, it is nearly always more like 8).

There is a way that you can use surface mail and forgo the anxs of waiting 3 month all the time, but it may lead to a breakdown in your relationship. But it can be worth the risk.

You just need to start ordering something every week or so from a USA or Canadian vendor and just keep doing it. Yeah sure the first 3 month are murder as Paul suggested, but after that, you will be receiving something in the mail every week or so and it ain't too bad.

The best part is that you will soon loose track of what you have coming next, so your life will be perpetually blessed with pleasant surprises. Why even if your partner does leave, chances are, with all them regular visits, you can strike up a new relationship with the delivery person. If their not your type, simply look in their van one day and take note of a few of the names and addresses on the parcels. Then you ring the company a few time using the different names to complain about the service and they will get rid of them.    

Now, as for the nitro, look for distributor of Protec Finishes, I think they are based in Adelaide SA. They do 1 litre cans of nitro pre cat and standard. I think Mirotone have ceased production of non-cat nitro altogether and even when they did make it, they only supplied 4 or may be even 20 litre cans minimum anyhow.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Kim

Bob,

If your after wood, including tops and such, and you wish to avoid the shipping dramas altogether, just be sure to check out Tim Spittles site HERE.

Tim is the only local OLF sponsor, and whilst he does have a free shipping special on at the moment for International customers, I believe he offers free shipping at all times nationally within Australia.

His site is under going a few changes at the moment so it may be best to just call him and introduce yourself. He is a top bloke who will bend over backward to see you right. So give him a call and let him know who you are, I am sure some of the other members who have done business with him will back up this advise.

Cheers

Kim

Hi Paul

Speaking of Rocking Horse kaka.

I got this from a friend who is a builder of very nice
banjos down here in Geelong. It had been kicking around in his shed for thirty years and he sold it to me for the princely sum of $50.

It was in a plank so we had to resaw it but got two sets of back and sides, four fingerboards, about ten bridges with some left over for headstock veneers, out of it. It also killed about three bandsaw blades - this stuff was tough.

Maybe life is good after all and I should stop whingeing about postage costs.

Cheers

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

yummmmm..... but what is it?

Thanks for the info on the nitro guys. I'll follow up both of those leads.

Kim - I've done the slow boat to China thing with some Englemann and Red Spruce tops from Canada. Thirteen weeks they both took but it was worth the wait. I was on the floor with your description of the SWMBO scenario.

Lamberti Brothers are a good source of ivoroid, maple and EIR bindings, herringbone, and zipper back strips. I also noticed in their catalogue U-channel truss rods for about $8. Don't know what sort of quality they are but at that price it's gotta be worth getting one in for a squiz.

Thanks for the info all.

Bob

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

BRW

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia