Guitar Vise

Whenever I've seen someone do fret edges, they usually lay the guitar on it's back somehow, so that the neck is comfortably braced, and stand on one side of the neck while filing down and away on the other.

I've never done it, nor do I want to, but it seemed to work well for them and they seemed pretty comfortable.  Had 3 guitars done by 2 different guys, they did great jobs and all guitars came out great.

I haven't done fret replacement yet, but ironically this Guitar Repair Vise is coming to my house tomorrow!!!

www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Vises/Guitar_Repair_Vise.html



Personally I'd like to have to guitar held solidly instead of wasting my energy trying to hold it.  Less chance of a mistake too.

I also bought an articulating vise from Harbor Freight and had special jaws made to work on nuts & saddles.  No more trying to hold them in my fingers!





I normally keep a towel over it so there's no chance of whacking a guitar into it.

OH!!!!! DON'T SAY THAT!!!!! STEW CRACK!!!!

I try to find alternatives or copy or improve Stew Mac stuff whenever possible. But sometimes there is no substitution for the right tool. I've considered getting the guitar repair vise for 3 years but I'm too cheap to spend the $170 with shipping. Finally I have no choice, I need it to be able to hold the neck for the Woodcraft guitar to shape it. Woodcraft sells a similar one, but Stew's has a couple of upgrades that makes it worth the extra $20.

I copied the design for the nut & saddle jaws from Stew Mac and had them made at work. Hardened steel, they'll last forever. And it works great, I can rotate the vise on 2 axis. The vise was only $24 at Harbor Freight.

That's why I've always struggled to hold stuff in my hands to work on it. It may not be easy but it gets the job done. And the occasional screw up.

I'm sure I'll find many uses for the Stew Mac guitar repair vise. The problem is what to do with it when I'm not using it. It's too big to leave attached to the table and the mentioned smack damage.