RobBright 35 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 So who here does it and where do you get your supplies from? Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 What kind of stuff you meaning, Man? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Tools and materials. Went to D2 today, and I love that shop. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 We renovated our house in Kutchan mostly ourselves. Completely stripped the entire interior and started from scratch. Got a lot of our basic supplies from Homac like wood, insulation and plasterboard. There were a couple of more specialist hardware suppliers in town I'd also use for things I couldn't get at Homac. For anything I couldn't get in Kutchan I'd try getting from Joyful AK in Sapporo. They were good for things like tiles and fittings. Quite a few things I used a local Japanese builder friend to order stuff in for me. We got our floorboards from one of the Niseko developers who had excess after a development they were doing was completed. Overall for a big job like what we did it wasn't easy. DIY home renovating isn't overly popular in Japan so the stores aren't stocked that well for doing it. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Cheers for that GN. Not quite on the renovating part yet, well not that the wife has told me yet. Going to build the boy_in_japan a toy box and then move onto a few chairs... Anyone know where I can buy a small bench, like a black & Decker workbench? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Caines Home, Home Assist and Jumbo Encho are places I usually go to when I have a project to work on. Before I came to Japan I used to do loads of DIY... fences, sheds, kitchens... I was pretty handy for that kind of stuff. In fact, I spent 5 summers building swimming pools and doing landscaping (among other things) and almost went that route as a career. I've only done a little since moving here mainly because I don't really want to spend loads on buying all the tools again. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Anyone know where I can buy a small bench, like a black & Decker workbench? D2 has had them, though haven't checked recently. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Yeah was there today, but nowt. And got an "eh?" look when I tried to explain to them. Found one on amazon in the end. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Home Centre in Shonan Fill Mall has them Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Yes. DIY and beyond. I get most of my tools and stuff from OFF Corporation. What ever lumber I can't get at the box stores lumber yards I pick up at several different specialty suppliers. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Cheers for that GN. Not quite on the renovating part yet, well not that the wife has told me yet. Going to build the boy_in_japan a toy box and then move onto a few chairs... Anyone know where I can buy a small bench, like a black & Decker workbench? Build it silly......this is the DIY thread right? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Did think about doing that but need a router but can't seem to find a decent one at a reasonable price. Do you have one chriselle? If so, where did you get it from? Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Did think about doing that but need a router but can't seem to find a decent one at a reasonable price. Do you have one chriselle? If so, where did you get it from? I have 2 routers and a couple trimmers, too. I have a Bosch 1619EVS 3 1/4 horse and an older Hitachi M12.....,,,,...pretty full on machines. My dad wasn't using the Bosch that much so I "acquired" it a few years ago. I bought the Hitachi here. The new Hitachi line are a good router. Get the full sized machine that you can use a 1/2 inch collet in. They aren't cheap but..... "there is nothing more expensive than cheap tools" applies with routers. Also, once you learn your way around a router and get it set up in a table you can do a lot work that you would normally need other high end tools for. Planing, jointing......no problem. Some of my DIY.....More than 90% done with the router. The guitars are for me... the amps go to market. I have many more but here's a sample.. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 I love routers, used to use my dad's selection quite a lot but its only recently since owning a house, and seeing how ridiculously priced flat packs are in Japan compared to making stuff yourself, that I have thought, hey DIY is pretty useful. Moreover, seeing pre cut boards/wood in D2 being sometimes 4x the price of the uncut wood also shocked me. Just dont have any tools. Future projects are: Kitchen table and chairs; Bed; Kitchen cabinet; BBQ and Decking. Thinking a power drill, jigsaw and a router are the main purchases for power tools. Any thoughts Chriselle, BM or GN? Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Here's my list of required tools. A good cordless drill....18volt preferably. Random orbital sander, Sliding mitre saw, Router and a good router table. A jig saw is kind of superfluous and hokey except for doing artsy stuff....not accurate enough for anything serious. The table saw is the center piece of any shop and gets a lot of use but can easily kill your budget if you get a good one....plus they are really hard to get in Japan. The bench top type table saws you see at D2 and so on are hit and miss but I have gotten the one I bought to do a decent job.....for 200 bucks. Clamps,,,,lots of clamps. Sounds like you want to do some joinery. The pocket hole Kreg jigs are great. I also have a good biscuit joiner which is pretty useful. And the hidden ingredient....jigs.. lots of jigs. Where are you going to be doing your work? Dealing with the dust is an issue. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Got some loft space which is an enclosed space, or a small tent for outdoors when it gets too hot. Clamps, and jigs are on my list. Joinery, currently plumping for the mortise/tenon joint but would prefer to use finger joints. No problem with doing those as spent years making them, and watching my dad. Table wise, for a black and decker workmate for a level surface. Link to post Share on other sites
surfarthur 22 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Love the guitars Chriselle, how long does it take to make one? Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Love the guitars Chriselle, how long does it take to make one? Thanks Surfarthur. Depends on the guitar but from board stock to unfinished body.....2 to 4 days including jointing. The strat above is my latest. It has a hollow two piece Honduras mahogany body with a book matched mahogany cap on the back and a very rare piece of Hokkaido book matched Hinoki top cap. So, LOTS of joining. I don't like making necks but I do all the fret work. Necks are CGUSA customs. So, start to finish....a month or two. Man in Japan....check out OFF Corporation for their dust management systems. A good dust collector has been my best investment. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Nice guitars! Is being a leftie part of the reason you started making them? You can get pretty basic workbenches in most home centers for 2000 yen or less. The tops are made of mdf, which disintegrates but can be replaced with wood. The Japanese Do Pa! diy magazine usually seems to come with plans for things like benches if you want to make your own. The value of it is that it lists stuff you can easily get in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Nice guitars! Is being a leftie part of the reason you started making them? You can get pretty basic workbenches in most home centers for 2000 yen or less. The tops are made of mdf, which disintegrates but can be replaced with wood. The Japanese Do Pa! diy magazine usually seems to come with plans for things like benches if you want to make your own. The value of it is that it lists stuff you can easily get in Japan. No, not really. There are plenty of sources for quality lefty guitars. It was more a matter of having a guitar to my liking. I agree mr wiggles....Do Pa has some good simple projects in them. Link to post Share on other sites
rider69 18 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 We do alot of big renovations ourselves every year. For really good inslulation and proper good paints, carpets etc we shop online. The selection is quite good. For wood and basic stuff like screws we just use komeri in town. Also when we want some things we go ask a building company to order stuff as well. You pay more for some stuff but they have access to way better materials. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Got given some router bits - need a good clean though as they look a bit rusty. Would have made making the grooves a heck of a lot easier. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 What size of shank are they? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 1/4" I think - can't get the damn box open! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 That's what your new hammer is for. However, not a good sign. Link to post Share on other sites
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