bisonlongshot Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Hi! I wan't to re-top a solid body guitar with a 1/4 inch book-matched flame maple top (not an arch top). I don't really know where to begin! How would I go about making the body thinner? Would I use a planer and then just sand it down to get it level, or would I need other tools? Any tips at all would be helpful! Thanks, Bison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I would use a Wagner safe-t-planer. A router on some type of sledge is also a common tool to take a chunk out of a guitar blank, or guitar body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisonlongshot Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Hmm, it looks like that tool is discontinued! Where do you think I could track down a used one? Currently checking ebay! Thanks for the response though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackyl Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Try here: http://woodworker.com/fullpres.asp?PARTNUM=24760&LARGEVIEW=ON Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mender Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Try here: http://woodworker.co...60&LARGEVIEW=ON Trouble is, they don't have them in stock, and as they are no longer manufactured, it is highly unlikely they will ever get any more. They have the cutters, but no good without the planer.It is simple to make a sled to use a router for thinning the body out, so I guess that is probably the easiest option, unless you have access to a thickness planer wide enough to pass the whole body through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackyl Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I actually just called them on the phone because that is where I got mine from a couple of months ago. These are not the actual Wagner ones they are copies and from overseas, the person said that they should be in soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 Yeah, I have heard about the guy(s) making th safe-T quiting and the only substitute being a"China made" version. I have not seen any reliable reviews of the new ones so if you decide to get one it would be great to hear your opinion Mental note to myself: stack up on original replacement cutters... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bisonlongshot Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 They look pretty similar to this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-The-Barron-Multi-Purpose-Rotary-Wood-Planer-Drill-Press-Attachment-/270972092198?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1731ff26#ht_500wt_1056 which is the only thing that I could find! No worries, I'll be able to figure it out one way or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackyl Posted May 22, 2012 Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 I can tell you that the one that I have works great, so far no issues or complaints and I have use both. The cutters are without a doubt important to have anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdshirtman Posted May 23, 2012 Report Share Posted May 23, 2012 I thought LMI had them but a quick check shows that they have been discontinued. I feel like I have a collectors item now. I'm wondering if I should buy some replacement blades before they are too hard to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Update on the Safe-T-Planer: Today I ordered some parts from Stumac and just to be sure to have spare parts ordered two sets of cutters for the Wagner Safe-T. I go the answer that they only had one set left and that the product are from now on discontinued. So it seems that I got the last set of spare cutters from them. Does anyone know if spare cutters are still available from some other source or if the cutters for the "copy" will fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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