Doing Things Wrong

Basic Tools

For a minimal woodworking workshop, I would say:

  • hand drill & basic hand tools
  • small drill press and accessories
  • scroll saw or jigsaw or both
  • belt sander, handheld or benchtop or both
  • dremel & accessories ( or my little Harbor Freight Grinder )
  • a big toolbox that you can fill with files, rasps, scrapers, sanders, drill bits, and everything else
  • vacuum cleaner with a hose ( steal from wife )

None of these need to be expensive - Ryobi, Skil, and Black & Decker will do just fine. Even Harbor Freight, although I have doubts about the longevity of their power tools. The results you get depend a lot more on your skill with the tool than how much you paid for it.



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I've cut out the slot for the truss rod. This is a standard 540mm truss rod for a 34" scale bass. To make it fit in a 32" neck, I need to add one more fret. So my project will have one more fret than an actual Ric, just another way it will be better than the real thing. The jig and tools and method are all described in the Laboratory. Most of the work was done in the jig, with a little free-hand nipping for the adjuster end. I haven't carved out the access for the adjuster yet.

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