Bridge making

[Jim Garber]

I have a number of bowlback and flattop mandolins that need non-standadr bridges (meaning, of course, non-Gibson style). I am looking for suggestions as to what tools i should pourchase and recomendations thereof.

Obvious to me would be a decent tabletop beltsander. Also some handtools, like knives and files that would be good for dealing with bone, rosewood and ebony. Any suggestions for sources for above. I know of Stewmac and LMI but I would assume that they would be the most expensive for luthier-specific tools. Would a scroll saw make sense. A friend also just got a miniature table saw. Are those useful?

The same friend recommended Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com) for reasonably priced tools. Any comments.

They have this belt sander (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36402). Anyone familiar with it?

Thanks in advance
Jim

[Patrick Gunning]

I made numerous red-henry style and Gibson A style bridges using a table saw (to rip out bridge blanks), a scroll saw, a drill press, a belt sander, and sand paper. I also got a sanding drum for the drill press and used it as a drum sander. I was pretty lucky in that I already had all the tools I needed. Good luck with your bridgemaking.

-Patrick

Edit: also, a set of files of the different string gauges you will be using are necessary (sold on stewmac as nut files).

[Jim Garber]

Did you need special blades for the hardwoods?

Jim

[Patrick Gunning]

I used a regular blade with no problems, just on especially hard woods (a piece of phillipine mahogany I used for example) you need a little more patience with it, or the blade will jam and go crazy. However, the blade I was using was a good few years old and kind of rusty. Now, I have some round blades, for cutting in any direction, they seem to work very well for this sort of thing.

[Rob Anderson]

Hi Jim,
I'll second everything Patrick said and add that I do my thickness sanding on an oscillating spindle sander with a homebrew fence attached to the table. It removes material quicker than with a drill press and sanding drum.
Bridge making is quite easy, alot of fun and a cheap way to improve (or degrade!) the sound of your instrument.
I've found it to be a nice way to learn the basic concepts of intonation and action setup as well.
Rob Anderson

[Gail Hester]

I use the luthier professional series Siminoff bridge drawing to get the compensation right, a band saw, a flat file and a disc sander. This one is Macassar Ebony.

[Jim Garber]

Attached are two samples of the style of bowlback/flattop bridge I am interested in reproducing. There is a bone saddle insert that goes in and it is mitred at the ends. Any suggestions on the best way to produce that cut?

Jim