Posted on April 13, 2026April 13, 2026 by Dale Phillips It Worked for Me: Breathing Air Systems It Worked for Me: Breathing Air Systems by Gary Hopkins Originally published in American Lutherie #112, 2012 From what I have read, the majority of guitar buyers prefer a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Average relative humidity here in Florida is 70%–80% year around. The recommended maximum relative humidity for spraying lacquer is 65%, so times when you could spray lacquer in nonconditioned air would be greatly limited. But spraying lacquer indoors creates additional problems including health hazards from inhaled fumes. So what is the safest way to spray? I started building guitars after a long career in mechanism design engineering with the Space Shuttle program. When working with hazardous gases at Kennedy Space Center, we always used breathing air systems, so when it came time to set up my small shop, my first thought was to set up an inexpensive air system and not have to use air filters at all. Perhaps one day waterborne lacquer will be improved to the point that we will no longer need to be concerned about these health hazards. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 by Dale Phillips Dust Masks and More Dust Masks and More by Linda Stuckey Originally published in American Lutherie #116, 2013 Respirators seem like the most affordable part of the dust control system, and if you’re a hobbyist who backs the car out of the garage on the weekends to set up the bandsaw, your only dust control might be a broom and a dust mask. How do you find the one you need? The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certifies particulate respirators that meet its standards. The ratings are based on efficiency and resistance to airborne oil. The letters tell you that the mask is not oil resistant (N), is somewhat oil resistant (R), or is nearly oil proof (P). In a similar way, the numbers describe the efficiency, the percentage of particles the material traps. So an N95 mask is not oil resistant and filters at least 95% of airborne particles.1 (A rating of 100 means at least 99.97%. They round that one.) So if you’re using an N95 mask, no more than 5% of the particles can get through it, assuming it fits well. The mask works partly like a sieve, so that particles larger than the gap between fibers can’t penetrate. But smaller particles also get stuck to the fibers. And the P-rated masks include an electrostatic coating on the surface of the mask as a third filtering method.rticles also get stuck to the fibers. And the P-rated masks include an electrostatic coating on the surface of the mask as a third filtering method. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 by Dale Phillips Battling Shop Dust Battling Shop Dust by Robbie O’Brien Originally published in American Lutherie #116, 2013 As luthiers we are all aware of the many health hazards and dangers we encounter daily in our craft. Sharp objects, hand tools, power tools, and chemicals from finish and repair work come to mind almost immediately. Many of us also play the instruments we make, so just the thought of losing a finger and not being able to play anymore motivates our safety habits. However, we often overlook a pervasive danger in the shop, wood dust. Even in cases when we are aware of the danger, we may do little or nothing about it. We protect our fingers, eyes, and ears in the shop, but what about our noses and lungs? Most of us know that dust in our shops is a major nuisance. But how many realize that excessive exposure to wood dust can cause health problems? The health hazards of wood dust are well documented. Some wood dusts are toxic, even carcinogenic, and frequent exposure can lead to sinus and lung problems, or worse. The U.S. Department of Labor OSHA website warns: “In general, exposure to excessive amounts is considered to have an irritant effect on eyes, nose, and throat in addition to pulmonary function impairment and is considered a human carcinogen. Western red cedar dust has also been shown to cause asthma.”1 Now wait just a minute! I use this species on my guitars. Now you have my attention! Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on July 8, 2024June 20, 2025 by Dale Phillips Pearly Shells and Nichols Pearly Shells and Nichols by David Nichols from his 1984 GAL Convention lecture Originally published in American Lutherie #1, 1985 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Volume One, 2000 My shop recently did two guitars for the Martin Company which are elaborate enough that they encompass basically all the different techniques used in pearl inlay. We inlaid the tortoise shell pickguards, the rosewood headstocks, ebony fingerboards, and all edgebinding. I photographed many steps in this process, and we can look at these as examples. Here’s a picture of where I’m going to cut the pearl and do the inlay work (Photo 1). I have taken an extra liberty with our cutting board, drilling a series of holes in the back where I can stand all the little Dremel attachments that I’m going to need. When we cut pearl, it is either filed, or ground with the Dremel to an exacting contour after we saw it. It gives you a much better looking job if you touch up the sawn edges of the pieces before you put them in. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on June 13, 2024May 15, 2025 by Dale Phillips A Review of Indoor Air Quality Health Issues A Review of Indoor Air Quality Health Issues for the Home Woodworking Shop by Robert A. Edelstein Originally published in American Lutherie #86, 2006 Indoor air quality is an important issue for the luthier and woodworker to consider. While certainly not a glamorous topic, the benefits of learning some of the important concepts, (and making appropriate changes to protect your health), are certainly worth the effort. I look forward to my time in the shop. The pleasure of woodworking is tempered with chores, though, and I spend some time cleaning up the place before and after each work session. When I first walk in, it looks fairly clean. Upon closer inspection, I find a thin layer of dust is actually covering a surprising number of the surfaces. This became more apparent to me recently when my son and I remodeled our basement shop, and the tremendous amount of dust hidden in the crevices became visible. In addition, my son began to wheeze within a few minutes of entering the shop, and only fresh air provided relief. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.
