Patrick Podpadec /  Luthier
440.428.2632
woodnstrings@ncweb.com

TOOLS

Through the years, I have had to fashion some of my own tools due to lack of funds or not being able to find it. I've had extreme enjoyment from designing or "revamping" a tool I may have seen somewhere. Here are a few examples of some things I've made.

1)  Clamps
These clamps were made by laminating 3/8 plywood and a hardwood maple bar. I made three different sizes to accommodate various depths: 6", 8", and 10".

On the right is a close up of a small brace caul that I adapted to my clamps. By drilling a small hole into the clamp it allows the caul to swivel around to any angle that is needed.

This is a kerfing clamp that I fashioned after I saw an aluminum one that Bob Taylor from Taylorguitars.com designed and introduced at an A.S.I.A. symposium in 1995. I made mine from some extra pieces of hard sugar maple.

To the right is a picture of a few of them.  They work quite well, but are labor-intensive to produce.

2)  Universal bending machine  

Tthis is a jig that I built in about 1992. I bought the plans from Luthier mercintile.com. It was a fun litte project and has worked well for me, though I have only bent a couple of sets of sides with it. More often, I bend sides individually with a hot pipe. Since I seem to build "one of" custom pieces, it doesn't seem to pay for the time to build the inner mold for the bending machine. I'm sure once I've decided on a paticular style of instrument to build I will put this machine to frequent use.

3)  Simple graduating calipers
I made this caliper after I read Bob Benidetto's book on building archtop guitars, which in my opinion is one of, if not the best book on guitar--building ever printed. He has done a exellent job with his drawings, the layout, etc. Do yourself a favor and check out this manual! His videos on the subject are equally impressive.

4)  Newer calipers
This caliper is a big improvement over my first attempt but I have found that I still need to work on the design. Although the depth, or "reach," of this tool is more than adequate, it tends to flex a bit due to distance of reach, which makes the bottom arm flex under its own weight. It does work well if it's base is set on a solid surface That is not always possible or desireable. I intend to make another, perhaps out of a little thicker plexiglass, with less of a throat because it is not needed in most cases About 9" is sufficient, where mine is about 11".