The Art Of Lutherie

Have you ever found yourself rushing through the guitar finishing process, eager to see the final result—only to end up facing frustration, soft finishes, or imperfections? In this podcast episode, I'm diving into the transformative power of "Cure Time"—not just as a technical approach to better guitar finishing, but as a principle that's helped me create a more fulfilling journey in both the quality of my guitars and my life.   SUBSCRIBE: The Art Of Lutherie Free Newsletter: https://theartoflutherie.com/newsletter/ CHECK OUT THE COURSE: The Art of French Polishing Video Course: https://theartoflutherie.com/french-polishing/ LEARN MORE: The Luthier's EDGE online guitar making school and mentorship program: https://theartoflutherie.com/luthier-school/ BOOK MENTIONED: "Rest" By Alex Soojung-Kim Pang (Highly Recommended!) https://geni.us/O6X9V   In this episode, we'll explore how embracing the Cure Time Principal, allowing your work to rest, and creating the right environment can lead to: - A more efficient and enjoyable guitar finishing process. - Mastering French polishing and other luthier techniques. - Greater mindfulness and personal growth, not only in craftsmanship but in every aspect of life. I'll share practical tips on how I integrate "Cure Time" in guitar finishing, why rushing can lead to setbacks, and how these lessons have extended beyond my workshop to improve many other parts of my life. Whether you're an experienced luthier or someone looking to bring more mindfulness to your craft, I think you'll find something valuable here.   KEY TAKEAWAYS:  Why rushing your guitar finishing process leads to common mistakes—and how to avoid them. - How "Cure Time" can transform not just your creative work, but also your approach to life. - Practical tips for mastering French polishing and making the guitar building process more enjoyable. If you haven't subscribed yet, I'd love for you to join me for more on the art of lutherie, guitar making tips, and ways to bring mindfulness into the craft you love: https://theartoflutherie.com/newsletter/

Stress and tension are vital parts of the guitar's design. After all, the tension of the strings is the engine that drives the whole system. But sometimes, if we aren't aware of it, we build or design stress and tension into places or components of the guitar that can harm its long-term stability and sound quality. In this video, I share my approach to improving your guitars and your workflow by spotting and managing tension and stress concentration:  In your guitar designs In your guitar-building process And in other critical areas of your life The simple approach I explain in the video can help you craft a better guitar-building workflow, achieve better long-term stability, and produce a more beautiful voice from each instrument you create.

Explore the new StewMac guitar side bending machine, how it compares to the older Fox Bender, and learn how to use it step-by-step.

Check out my current picks for the best luthier tools. These are the tools that help me get more done, do higher quality work, and have more fun in the process. I hope this video helps you find some new top tools of your own to help you do your best guitar-building work in 2024 and beyond.

French Polishing Techniques: How to make and load the French Polishing pad and key techniques for applying a glossy and durable French Polish finish. It's the same system I use for my guitars (tbguitars.com) and that I teach in my online course: The Art Of French Polishing ⁠https://theartoflutherie.com/french-polishing/⁠ Links from the video: 

Learn my simple system and easy-to-remember formulas for making the perfect shellac for French Polishing. It's the same system I use for my guitars (tbguitars.com) and that I teach in my online course: The Art Of French Polishing https://theartoflutherie.com/french-polishing/   Links from the video:

Learn about the different types of oil for French Polishing and how they can be used to produce a more durable and glossy shellac finish for your next guitar. French Polishing Fundamentals Part 5 - Oils For French Polishing. Links from the video:

Types of shellac for French Polishing. A deep dive into the different types of shellac for French polishing, colors of shellac, and recommendations for beginners. French Polishing Fundamentals Part 4 - Shellac. Links from the video:

Best types of alcohol for making shellac for French Polishing. How to choose the best solvent for making shellac - Ethanal, isopropyl or denatured alcohol? French Polishing Fundamentals - Part 3. Links from the video:

Wood Preparation For French Polishing. French Polishing Fundamentals - Part 2. Links from the video:

How To French Polish Series: French Polishing Fundamentals - Part 1 Part one of a seven part free series to help you learn the art of French polishing for guitars. Links from the video:

How to use a block plane and the importance of focusing on the fundamentals. Links from the video:

The Dragon Hand-Cut Rasp from Stewmac is easily the best rasp I have ever used for shaping guitar necks. Enter The Dragon Rasp Giveaway Here: https://theartoflutherie.com/stewmac-dragon-rasp-giveaway/

Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers, & Hygrometers, and Other Tools For Measuring & Managing Guitar Shop Humidity.

Flawless headstock binding starts with flawless binding channels. This video shows you my simple tips for creating consistently perfect headstock binding channels.

Learn about the guitar backstrap overlay and how (and why) adding this element to your next guitar can improve its strength, beauty, and sound.

The Ultimate Guide To Scrapers covers the six key areas that will help you easily sharpen your scrapers and get great results while using them. You will learn how to sharpen scrapers, how a scraper really works, the different types of scrapers, how to chose the right scraper for each task, preferred tools for sharpening scrapers, scraper techniques for the best cutting performance, and a bonus section that will save you tons of time and help you work faster with your woodworking  card scraper.  Check out the written Ultimate Guide to Card Scrapers for more detailed info here: https://theartoflutherie.com/card-scrapers/  Learn more about the Luthier's EDGE Online Guitar Making School here: https://theartoflutherie.com/luthier-school/ Use the time-stamps and tool links below to continently jump to what you need. 0:00 Intro 1:36 Luthier's EDGE Online Guitar Making School 2:04 How Scrapers Work 3:38 Choosing Scrapers For Specific Applications 6:03 Types Of Scrapers (My Personal Favorites) 8:37 Tools For Sharpening Scrapers 10:47 How To Sharpen Scrapers  25:57 How To Use A Wood Scraper (Scraper Techniques) 34:29 Ultra Fast Re-Sharpening (Bonus Tip) 36:45 Info About The Free Written Ultimate Guide To Scrapers  Tools From The Video My Favorite Scrapers Stewmac Ultimate Scraper Mini: https://geni.us/dMqjLqj Stewmac Ultimate Scraper Original: https://geni.us/U7jZO Stewmac Ultimate Scraper Rectangle/Concave: https://geni.us/XKS7 Lie-Nielson scraper set: https://geni.us/XbH1   Note: The Curved scraper set I showed is no longer made, but I found this one that seems to be just about the same and I have had some of my Luthier's EDGE Students tell me that they love them: It's the 7 Piece Mini Scraper Set about halfway down this page: https://geni.us/BZR27C2 Scraper Sharpening Tools Sharpening Oil: https://geni.us/9fmgo 10" Fine Mill File: https://geni.us/kZWH About the closest Arkansas Stone I could find similar to mine: https://geni.us/BIM7XO These stones would work great too:   A Nice Traditional Scraper Set:  Stewmac Scraper Burnisher I Use: https://geni.us/W1r3ZH3 Other Tools I Use & Love Shown In The Video My split top Roubo style workbench: https://youtu.be/9wdcj_gciM4 Green Pattern Makers Vise: https://geni.us/1RhAY Tape dispenser: https://geni.us/MoNp Workbench Bench Lights: https://geni.us/mFVW The Art Of Lutherie (Free Guitar Making Resources) Subscribe to the Art Of Lutherie's YouTube Channel See My Handmade Acoustic & Archtop Guitars Here: https://tbguitars.com/ ******* Connect With The Art Of Lutherie On Social Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfLutherie/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/artoflutherie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheArtOfLutherie/

Three luthier tips that helped to transform the process of gluing the binding on to my guitars from a stressful process into one that I enjoy and that produces consistently flawless guitar binding results. Over the last 20+ years of professional guitar making, I have found that many times it's the simple things that make the biggest improvements to my work and my life as well. I hope these tips help you as you continue your journey into the art of lutherie. View the written version of this video here: https://theartoflutherie.com/better-guitar-binding/ Stewmac Tape Deck (Highly recommended tape dispenser): https://geni.us/MoNp Guitar Side Bending Iron: https://geni.us/VAC5 Filament Strapping Tape (I use for guitar binding tape - I have tried many brands and they have all worked well so far): https://geni.us/Xm7p Also check out my Detailed Guide To Tape For Guitar Making - The Luthier's Guide To Adhesive Tapes: https://theartoflutherie.com/tape-for-guitar-making/ If you found this video helpful, you might also enjoy our other online luthier training videos, guides, courses, and more. Use the links below to check them out: Luthier's EDGE Online guitar making school: https://theartoflutherie.com/luthier-school/ The Art Of Lutherie (Free Guitar Making Resources): https://theartoflutherie.com/ Subscribe to the Art Of Lutherie's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJP-s3hzL3Hb3SM-liHw6cw?sub_confirmation=1 See My Handmade Acoustic & Archtop Guitars Here: https://tbguitars.com/ ******* Connect With The Art Of Lutherie On Social Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfLutherie/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/artoflutherie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheArtOfLutherie/

Should you seal the inside of your guitar? And if you do seal it, what kind of sealers should you use? How should you apply it? How does that affect the sound of the guitar and how does it affect the long-term stability of the instrument and why? If you've been wondering about any of these questions, we're going to talk about all of them in this video so check it out and also learn more with the links below: Luthier's EDGE Online guitar making school: https://theartoflutherie.com/luthier-school/ The Art Of Lutherie (Free Guitar Making Resources): https://theartoflutherie.com/ See My Handmade Acoustic & Archtop Guitars Here: https://tbguitars.com/ Written version of this podcast here: https://theartoflutherie.com/seal-inside-guitar/

Taking the time to design and built my Luthier's Cabinet was one of the best improvements I've ever made to my guitar shop. It not only helped to protect my guitars during the building process and improve my workflow, but most importantly it improved my peace of mind - both when I am in my shop and when I'm not. Check out the Companion Blueprint and 5 Part Video course as well as the transcript of this podcast here: http://theartoflutherie.com/luthiers-cabinet-art-lutherie-podcast-6/

Welcome to this edition of the Art Of Lutherie Podcast! In this episode, I demonstrate and explain a simple guitar finishing technique specifically for French polishing resinous woods like cocobolo PLUS we take it a step further with a great bonus tip too.  To Get The Free Intro To French Polishing Series CLICK HERE This simple trick has critical to getting great results from my guitar french polishing and I hope it will do the same for you and help you build better guitars.     Find the other resources mentioned in the podcast here: http://theartoflutherie.com/simple-guitar-finishing-trick-art-lutherie-podcast-5/    

Welcome to This edition of the Art Of Lutherie Podcast! In this episode, I show you my 10 favorite tools for fret installation in a video clip taken from my online guitar making courseFretwork Mastery Part 1. In this podcast I also share some of my personal experiences, stories, and encouragement about overcoming the stumbling blocks that tried to hold me back from building my first guitar and from stepping out to improve the guitars I was already building. I hope you'll find this podcast useful, encouraging, and inspiring to help you move forward and overcome those negative voices in your life that are trying to hold you back. All of us here at The Art Of Lutherie and the Luthier's EDGE are cheering you on, so go for it, you can do it!   Find Resources For This Podcast Here:  Tool Links: http://theartoflutherie.com/awesome-tools-guitar-fret-installation/ Fretwork Mastery Course: http://theartoflutherie.com/guitar-fretwork-mastery-part-1/  

In this episode, I share with you a simple concept that was an epiphany for me early on in my career and helped me to speed up the rate at which each guitar was getting better and becoming more refined - But most importantly, it helped the players who owned my guitars appreciate and enjoy them more.  

In this episode, I'll explain a simple way that you can influence and get greater control over the acoustic tone of your next guitar. This gives you more artistic expression and precise control over how it will sound regardless of the bracing pattern or guitar type. This is a really fun thing that you can try as you experiment, refine, and develop your own unique voice for your guitars... - Tom Bills

In this Episode I share a simple tip that has helped me improve the cohesiveness and beauty of my guitar inlay and has contributed to the elegance of the overall guitar design, my hope is that it will do the same for you and your guitars! - Tom Bills