Bench for musical instrument mending/making

[Jacob]

Fiddling around with banjo on a table and thought it'd be a good idea to have a bench for the job. Perhaps 2x3ft with a well for bits n bobs, a vice, a drawer or two.
Sounds simple enough.
Any particularly good designs or ideas I might incorporate?

 

[thetyreman]

I've seen guitar techs have a carpeted surface so it doesn't damage the instruments, I just use a yoga roll up mat on mine and tape it down when working on instruments to stop damage, otherwise just a standard english nicholson style workbench does a good job.

 

[Cabinetman]

How about a low bench (Roman style) you could straddle it whilst holding the instrument between your legs. Ooh Matron!

 

[Orraloon]

I just use my woodwork bench. I keep a few old towels to protect things. A u block for the neck to rest in padded with some rag. Often its just cobble something up to suit the job in hand.
Perhaps if I had the space for an instrument bench then I may think about it but seeing as a half decent woodwork bench is so versatile it gets the job done. I even made a banjo on it.
Regards
John

 

[Mikegtr]

Jacob----Two websites that may interest you.

a) Go to Youtube. Search on: 'Luthiers Workbench Build'

b) Check out the website: 'Banjo Hangout'
Anything you want to know about the banjo it's all there.

Hope that helps.

 

[BillK]

Depending what you want to do, making or fettling, but different heights can be handy to save being stooped for periods. Stools/seats may sort that though. Sometimes I want elbow sort of height, but with the mag glasses on I want my face to be inches away from a thing.
I've never liked carpet as a surface, it traps bits which are harder to see and isn't so easily cleaned. I use soft foam which can be washed, vac'ed, and you easily see bits on it.
Plenty of light. Handy power sockets.

I've got a pair of vices on a hinged extension, but a lot of people use a pattern makers vice for general holding duties.

One of those mats here with a lamp, a '60s 1001 Lamps one tarted up, rewired and giant daylight LED bulb -

 

[joshvegas]

I actually find the well in mine a bit of a pain.

Some tasks are easier with the neck pointing out towards or the whole thing at an angle. you so having the well is annoying.

Drawers would be great through as there isn't too much face work.

Infact. I would happily just use a table with drawers for most of it and an actual woodworking bench for the woodworking bits.

Then you can use a clamp on vice anywhere.

 

[Jacob]

Various clamps seem to be the main issue. So - sturdy table for various clamping ops, and woodwork bench for actual woodwork.
Is there a mini drill stand for accurate little holes? I've just been putting railway spikes and a new 5th string nut on a banjo. I've discovered that the chuck in my Hitachi cordless will hold even tiny drill bits 0.7mm dia if I wrap parcel tape around the bit to fatten it. Would be handy to have a drill stand but there is no handy fixing place on the drill itself. Maybe cobble one up with some ply etc I don't want to invest in special kit if I can avoid it. It's only a hobby!

 

[Jacob]

Jacob----Two websites that may interest you.

a) Go to Youtube. Search on: 'Luthiers Workbench Build'

b) Check out the website: 'Banjo Hangout'
Anything you want to know about the banjo it's all there.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that. "Banjo Hangout" already familiar.
I found this chap on youtube but he's very rambling and that was only episode one !
It's a learning process. Amongst other things I've got a very nice old fretless banjo, which I'd put on the shelf as the neck was very bent (dipped along the length) and I was wondering about remedial work. Years later and I suddenly realised that a bent neck is no prob if it's fretless! Just getting it going - Cripple Creek here I come!
PS never heard of Phoebe Sanders until now. I need some poultry wandering about while I'm practicing.

 

[BillK]

For small bits I use sets of carbide PCB drills, they have a 1/8" shank and come in incremental sizes down to 0.1mm. So fit easily in a bench/pillar drill. Really good, but don't take to any bending at all. Or by hand sometimes, an Archimedes drill for micro twist bits.

 

[Orraloon]

Thanks for that. "Banjo Hangout" already familiar.
I found this chap on youtube but he's very rambling and that was only episode one !
It's a learning process. Amongst other things I've got a very nice old fretless banjo, which I'd put on the shelf as the neck was very bent (dipped along the length) and I was wondering about remedial work. Years later and I suddenly realised that a bent neck is no prob if it's fretless! Just getting it going - Cripple Creek here I come!
PS never heard of Phoebe Sanders until now. I need some poultry wandering about while I'm practicing.

I learned a fair bit about guitars and some other good tips (masking tape and CA glue was a tip from him) from watching the crimson guitars guy. He likely knows what he needs in a guitar bench. He builds a pretty good guitar and thats mostly woodworking after all. Luthery is a learning curve for me even if I only dabble at the edges. I will watch his bench build with interest. So many fields of woodwork out there.
Regards
John