Hydrogeoman Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I picked up a 1/2 ton arbor press from Harbor Freight Tools for $30 and I am trying to save more $$ by making my own caul similar to the one that Stewmac sells. Has anybody out there attempted this or should I just spring for the Stewmac one with 4 inserts for $46? Thanks for any input. HG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wardd Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 H, I bought one of the StewMac cauls, put it in the drill press, works really slick. Do the inserts match the fretboard radius you are using? Good Luck, d ward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I bought the stewmac cauls and a harbor freight press. I had to drill a hole for the caul in the arbor press and then drill/tap another hole for a set screw. I like that setup a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Yep, milled one. I used wood as the radius. It works ok but it dents a bit. I'll prob make some brass ones at a later time. If you want one made PM me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I've got one in the works : http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v398/soa...t/diy_jaw_5.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 There was this beautiful tutorial here made by Jay5 but unfortunately it seems that the pics are gone from his picture server. Maybe if you ask him nicely he can send them to you. Here's the thread in question http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...4098&hl=stewmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrogeoman Posted March 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Thanks for all of your input. It never ceases to amaze me how generous you PG regulars are with your knowledge (and time)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwood Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I recall seeing one (a caul) made from the end of a wooden radius sanding block just sawn off, might have been someone on this suite. wwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I recall seeing one (a caul) made from the end of a wooden radius sanding block just sawn off, might have been someone on this suite. wwood Thats David Myka's setup he stuffs it up his drill press. I think that pic is in his big archtop guitar building tutorial thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 If any of you guys have the stew mac version. If its not do much trouble could someone measure the brass radius inserts for me. Length and thickness and depth it sits into the caul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I'll do it for you this weekend if someone doesn't beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 I'll do it for you this weekend if someone doesn't beat me to it. Thanks I appreciate it greatly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 (edited) Ha beat you to it! H 8mm L 63mm W 3mm Thats the slot it sits in, not the size of the brass insert. Edited March 9, 2006 by Godin SD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 sweet! thanks! Thanks for the offer as well garehanman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jer7440 Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 On the stewmac cauls, are they radiused for the crown of the fret as well as the fretboard radius? Did that make any sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay5 Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Yes they are. They have the fretboard radius across them as well as a small radius perpendicular to that to hold the crown. If that makes any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Yes they are. They have the fretboard radius across them as well as a small radius perpendicular to that to hold the crown. If that makes any sense. Extremely hard to make I might add. And from a functionality standpoint irrelevant if its set perpendicular into an arbor press with a set screw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Bah, it's not that hard to mill the little groove in there. But if you don't put the groove, you'll be better off to make your caul wider than Stew-Macs, to help keep it from slipping off the fret. Stew-Mac's very first cauls were like that. Scanning a picture of it would make me look compulsively crazy (or I should say 'MORE' compulsively crazy ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Why don't you just buy the brass insert and make a block it fits in? The inserts are dirt cheap and work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 Bah, it's not that hard to mill the little groove in there. But if you don't put the groove, you'll be better off to make your caul wider than Stew-Macs, to help keep it from slipping off the fret. Stew-Mac's very first cauls were like that. Scanning a picture of it would make me look compulsively crazy (or I should say 'MORE' compulsively crazy ). Speak for yourself. Milling a radius "accurately" is hard enough. About 60 passes with a ball endmill. Sure i could grind a groove in there but all accuracy is lost. The only thing I can think of is to dimple the middle on each pass to make the grove. I havent had any problem with the wood ones slipping. We'll see how the brass turns out. I think Godin nailed it on this one. For 5 Bucks you get a cnc milled one. easier. edit: ah I see. just measured out 3 mm wide thats .118" most fretwire is around the .1 mark. That could sip easily if it wasnt perfect. That one of mine is 1/4" wide. Makes a big difference. I guess ill make my width and an adapter plate lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikhailgtrski Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 (edited) On the stewmac cauls, are they radiused for the crown of the fret as well as the fretboard radius? Did that make any sense? yes Oops - of course, I didn't look at the 2nd page so my post is a bit... tardy Edited March 10, 2006 by mikhailgtrski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Don't want to give away my material of choice for these cauls, but here's a "test version" made from pergo floor scrap. Hard to see, but the little fret-crown hugging groove is also a perfect radius (which is a 17.5" radius on this one). http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v398/soa...retcaul3061.jpg Just one or two passes with the ball-end bit, the way I do it, that is, after the radius has been made with a straight bit. I can't make them out of hardened steel, but I think those would be the best. I imagine you could hold them over the fret and give a couple blows with a hammer to the caul to seat the fret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Black Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Hey Hydrogeoman - I like your ID! Long-time groundwater flow modeler and former assistant editor of Ground Water here. You might be surprised at how many hydrogeologists are guitar bums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrogeoman Posted March 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Hey Hydrogeoman - I like your ID! Long-time groundwater flow modeler and former assistant editor of Ground Water here. You might be surprised at how many hydrogeologists are guitar bums. Welcome Old Black! I think it is the blend of science/art/earth that is so appealing. Makes be believe that although many folks on this site are from completely different backgrounds we are all "cut from the same cloth." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Just so you know I have not tried this yet...........But For about $5 you can get one of these scrapers and cut the handle off and JB Weld an old drill bit for the shank. Get the Stew Mac insert of your choice, and all for about $10 bucks. Scraper Pic If you try this method be sure to get a scraper with a straight head, some are angled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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