Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi,
any UK luthiers using radius dishes?
If so did you make your own, buy them from the U.S or manage to find a UK engineer who can supply them?
I'm all for buying from the U.S, but I'm expecting to build up a pretty full set from this summer and the postage is more than the cost of the dishes....I dont have a problem with that but it might be that there's a lot of UK engineers with cnc machines who might appreciate the work.

got me thinking that maybe we should get a thread going with all the suppliers here that each other may not be aware of?

all the best,
steve

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www.theguitarrepairworkshop.com

Craft Supplies sell phenolic resin dishes, 15" and 25" dishes for £44.95...a combo will set you back £64.95.

You will have to ring to ask for a catalogue; they sell a good range of luthiery supplies/ tonewood and I love their AR glue they carry; it seems better than Titebond for some glueing tasks. Don't be put off by the website; it appears they have a very poor supply of luthiery items; that is SO far from the truth!!!

Fast service, too.

BTW, I don't use dishes.

David Dykes is another place to try- I just love this place. I'm hoping to make a pilgrimage down there one day and stock up.......

Touchstone Tonewoods. Haven't ordered from these guys yet.

Alas, nothing in the West Midlands yet....

I don't uses dishes either. I sand the braces to the right radius then use as many clamps as it takes.......

I get all my back, sides & neck wood from the skip at a local shopfitter.....

Here's some cherry I got this week.......

I reckon maybe 8 guitars worth?



I got about the same amount of Ash, Mahogany & walnut too......

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Hi, I made my own dishes using a router jig and 18mm MDF. I made two of each size 15' and 25' and glued them back to back for stability. Sand paper (600mm disc available from Axminster) attached to one side of each. That said if I was starting out now I'd probably just get the double sided phenolic dish from Craft Supplies, they are good value for money and likely to be very stable.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

thanks everyone, thats very helpful.
Sam,
i had to order the dishes separately, the combo is out of stock until some unknown date.
the catalogue is also out for a while but i'll get one when they're back in - i'm such a nerd - i love reading catalogues...

They knew me there for some reason - i really dont every remember buying from them before though, onkly £4 postage - hope i'm buying the right thing here.
I'm about to call David Dykes for some tone woods - heard lots about him, not always 100% positive but i'll make my own mind up.
I used to deal with touchstone years ago but i just didnt seem to get along with them, no idea why - i think asking to return a fret dressing file that was banana shaped was a problem. Still, i should get back onto them really. I find stew mac and lmi just so quick, cheap and efficient that i tend to stick with them as well as allparts uk.
(Dont forget to drop in for a brew sometime if you're in the manchester area )

Martin,
thats some good skipping you're doing there! i'll search out some shop-fitters near me for off cuts, thanks for the... 'tip' (ouch).
I did consider making some bracing blocks etc but i'm hoping to go into mid-scale production in a few years so I reckon it's worth the money.

Colin,
I've been considering making the dishes too, but time v money and all that persuaded me to just take the plunge. thanks again for the advice, I'll let you know how they are.

all the best,
steve

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www.theguitarrepairworkshop.com

Hey guys dont forget your only uk sponser.

granted its early days for me but i will be moving to my new workshop in kingston upon thames on april the 16th.
from then on its all go with a huge selection of back and side woods many of which are completly new to the trade.

i will be getting lots of jigs etc made up such as radius sanding blocks for fingerboards heat blanket systems. fox bender kits etc etc.

i would love to hear your ideas as to what you like to see in a wood supplier and what products you would like to see.

i am also looking for testers to check out new species of guitar woods in return for a free set you give me a reveiw of the wood.

i dont think i will be making radius dishes becouse of the time and money that goes into it but am thinking about it.
at the moment the main concern is wood.

feel free to let know what products and services you would like to see.


Joel.

Hey Joel, I'll try out anything new you want tested!!!

I'll email you direct!!

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cool send me your address and email and i will put you on the list.


joel.

Hello ,
Regarding Dave Dyke at Luthiers Supplies at Horam, I live quite close in East Sussex and have been buying from him for 23 years.
I have found David and Mike Reid very helpfull and obliging. Mike also sells pearl inlay ,pufling and also Weld on binding glue; http://www.smallwonder-music.co.uk.
I don't think Dave sells the dishes for bracing,I made mine with a router mdf and plenty of dust.
Greeting from a wet East Sussex

Rick Sellens