Questions: Online Machining Service

by Scott Marckx

Originally published in American Lutherie #84, 2005 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Seven, 2015

Scott Marckx of Port Townsend, Washington offers a useful tidbit:

There’s a company on the web called emachineshop (www.emachineshop.com). People can download free CAD (computer assisted drafting) software, design whatever kind of machine part they want out of a wide variety of materials, e-mail their order to the company, and get the thing in the mail. It seems like it may be very helpful for all of us luthiers who are trying to find or make special tools and jigs.

Letter: First Guitar

by Gretchen Weeks Brough

Originally published in American Lutherie #45, 1996

Dear GAL,

I am a new member, in the process of making my first guitar — a flattop acoustic cutaway. I became interested in lutherie when my husband needed a quality acoustic guitar and we couldn’t afford what he wanted. I asked a local luthier about learning the art, and his recommendation was to get all the books and videos I could find, and then buy a kit from Martin as a first project. This, we could afford!

In AL#43, a letter from Mr. Rick Topf mentions computer aided design (CAD), and wondering if there would be any interest in drawings done in AutoCAD format. There certainly is! I am, by trade, a freelance computer drafter, working in AutoCAD format. Not only would I be interested in drawings anyone else has done in AutoCAD, I would be happy to offer my services to anyone who wants their drawings done in AutoCAD.

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