Official Luthiers Forum!

OK, after some...prodding ...from certain members for a few months, I've finally gotten around to making a vacuum frame system I'm really happy with . And, since I love you all (and it's what I do for a living), I figured I might sell a few!



The important stuff: The frames are 26" square and 1.5" tall with a 24"x24" usable area so you can fit all your 2' dishes inside! They're also airtight like you wouldn't believe, owing to who welded them (see below).

Here's the skinny: the presses are made from 6061 aluminum extrusion and bar stock and are TIG welded by (I kid you not!) a certified aerospace welder (friends in high places). The membrane is a supple 1/32" neoprene rubber (same stuff LMII sells) and the gasket is an ample 3/8" closed cell neoprene foam. The membrane is user-replaceable in case of calamity. Vacuum reaches the inside of the frame at four points around the perimeter instead of just one, so you get more uniform vacuum distribution more quickly with less chance of 'sealing out'.

To save on shipping, I'm only making the lids here. You can get a 26" square piece of melamine for $10 at just about any hardware store and it'll serve fine as a base. If you are inclined to use a hinge (I don't, I like setting the lid straight down and being able to stow it away) then you can screw one to the aluminum so long as you caulk the screw holes to keep the seal! When I stuck one of the lids to a piece of aluminum and turned off the pump it was still holding vacuum five minutes later!

The pricing on these is $250 and shipping is $30 surface or $40 air in North America.
The membrane material is $22 for a 26"x30" piece.

If you want to order anything else small from here, like bridges, truss rod covers, tuner buttons, pickup rings, inlay, fretboards, etc, it can probably be crammed in the dish and shipped along with it for free.

The flash did weird things with the light on the aluminum ring, but I assure you the finish on the whole frame is nice. All the pictures are of the frame stuck to the (sort of rough like canvas) wall of the shop.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Bob
I will take one. Mine leaks like crazy!!!!
I sent you a PM

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I might not have been clear in the original post, but the frame DOES come with a membrane already installed! The pricing on the membrane was for those who might want to buy the membrane material from me or who might be interested in what it costs to replace if damaged.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Very nice! I made a small handful of similar presses, but didn't go through the trouble of welding the aluminum. I should have..as it's near impossible to get them air-tight. Hope you sell a Bunch of 'em!

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Those are nice!

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Ken

I'll take a couple.

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

Yeah, I'll take one as well Bob.

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Hey Don; (Williams that is, since two Dons posted recently)
If you don't want to give up on those frames, try 3M 5200 sealant in the unwelded corners. Available in small tubes at marine supply shops. Rough the alum up & smear it inside & out. The stuff's not cheap, but it is GOOD!

Nice work Bob! Any chance you'll be offering a bridge-clamping sized frame any time soon?

Cheers,
-Dave

Just put your whole acoustic body in the frame...

I did a bunch of bridge clamps back in December, but I think I'll have them as a stock item in my store which should be up in a week or so.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

OK, so that makes:
One Andy
Two Gregs (the other was via e-mail)
and Two Sharpies

I'll leave this one up for a week or so. They will be for sale in my store, as well, but the ones ordered here will all be made at once and shipped out immediately. The ones in the store could have up to a two week turnaround from order to ship.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

And me.
You were just paypal'd

Tom Armstrong

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(alias: gasawdust)

Looks great. Won't need anything like this for at least six months, but are you able to do custom sized ones? I'd be looking at probably two frames of 18x36" usable area.

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Richard
http://www.guitarmaker.com

I can do custom sizes but, since they'd need to be done on a one-off sort of basis, the pricing won't be as favorable as pre-designed units.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Bob:

I'll take one.

Chris Koos

Sounds good... extra cost is totally understandable. I'll be in contact when I'm in a position to go ahead with them.

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Richard
http://www.guitarmaker.com