Official Luthiers Forum!

Yes, I just sent the Paypal payment too. This was a really
nice idea. Thanks!

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Thanks, Jim...and Mark, and Scott, and Jim, and Daniel, and Tom, and Richard...

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Update: just heard from the metal guys. The brass will be in on Tuesday of next week.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John--Better get the place cleaned up if the brass are going to show up!
Nelson

Oye....

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Just a quick update; the brass is finally in. I'll be picking it up tomorrow. Everything is moving a little slower than I anticipated due to the quantity.

I'll be making 44 sets, 38 of which are currently spoken for.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

I'll take one too! Do I just paypal you or will you send me a paypal invoice?
Tracy

Tracy,

Just go here; http://www.watkinsguitars.com/fretcauls.htm

That way I make sure I have the right address.

Thanks.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Done! Thanks!
Tracy

John, I just sent you a paypal. This is perfect timing I couldn't decide what to get myself for Christmas Mark

Thanks, guys!

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Quick update: it looks like I'll be able to ship em' out next Wednesday or Thursday.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

[QUOTE=John Watkins] Quick update: it looks like I'll be able to ship em' out next Wednesday or Thursday.[/QUOTE]

Cool!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Awesome! Probably be here when I get back from my trip back home to the 'rents, I guess!

42 sets taken. Down to the last 2! Who wants em'?

http://www.watkinsguitars.com/fretcauls.htm

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Almost done! Just a few radii to go. Here's a sneak preview;

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John,
They look great!

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Yup, just WOW!! I think that you offered a great deal John

Thanks again!

Shane

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Canada

John

Those look just fantastic, can't wait to get my hands on them.

Russell

Alrighty then ... those are looking SWEET .... up here in Canada at Canadian Tire I can get a large set of welding vise grips to convert into a jaws 1 for under 25. Can't wait !!!! A jaws 2 will be easy with a 5 buck bar clamp as well.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

That looks good. When do we send money and where?

John

I'm with ya on the home made presses Tony. I have a set of John's cauls coming and no press yet (except for my 15 ton hydraulic press, Hummm wonder if I can just bypass cutting fret slots!!). So if you make up some tools from Canadian Tire stuff pass it along so the rest of us can use it. I'll do the same if I get at it first. I likely won't though I have a lot of other things one the go first!

Shane

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Canada

I'm another one who is interested in seeing what kind of home made press can be made. I was going to go buy a jaws 1 but if I can make it I would rather do that. Keep the rest of us posted.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

OK, wellhere is the first step - this is my current rig for the drill press. I made the brass caul by hand, a real bi%ch. but it works. Its pretty much 1/4 thick, no groove tor the fret bead, but it works pretty well. The new cauls will be amaziing compared to this.

So, the body is pretty simple - its 3 pieces fo 1/4 aluminum bolted up to hold the caiul at one end, and the swivel rod to mount inthe press at the other. The two middle bolts are 1/4 20 s, and they are tightly holding the whole thing together. Ont he other side, unseen, but right where you see the bootom tapped hole is a hex bolt whcih holds the caul in. The top bolt goes thru loose so the whole thing can pivot while pressing the fret.

So what to do to fthis next - well, I will make the whole thing a bit smaller for starters, but will need to replace the centre piece with a chunk a touch over 1/8 thick, to allow the new cauls to just fit in. The vise grips I was looking at have jaw arms which are about 3/16 thick, and maybe 1/2 to 5/8 height, and a good six inches long. If I modify the rod which is currently chucked int othe drill press by cutting a slot into it, it will then fit over the arm of the new grips. Drill a loose hole and bolt up so it can swivel. Make a simple wooden rounded caul ala Stew Mac and swivel bolt that to the bottom arm, and you pretty much have it. Obviously the upper brass caul holder is the tougher part to make up.

For the jaws 2, I will need to make the upper rod have a hole in it , so the bottom of the press screw on the clamp will fit into it. The drill and tap a set screw hole to keep it from falling off (of course you will need to get the little round swivelling caul off the bottom of the bar clamp screw - I cut one off, and the end is like a little ball, wiht a taper above it, something for the holding screw to sit into and hold the whole press on so it doesnt fall off the clamp - see the pic at stew mac - thye use a nylon set screw here, maybe not a bad idea.) I also plan to , once its all together, of actually drilling position holes thru the upper arm and bar of the clamp - forget the little set screws over there. This way its solid, and cant move up or down once set to a particular height for pressing. It shouldnt affect the strength of the bar at all if the holes and pins are small, say 1/8 inch.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

John,
What a Professional Job! Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to make our lives a little easier!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"