Another cool tool.....The Flatmaster

[@Motocicleiros]

Interesting machine, I didn't know it.

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

I use it for many different tasks throughout the build process. Very useful tool. Thanks for watching!

[@johnmmiller]

I have two Flatmasters, two Little Rippers and two Round Rippers. Love everything from Stockroom supply....

[@PG-sd1yn]

Awsome. I'm thinking about getting the Little Ripper as well.

[@johnmmiller]

@@PG-sd1yn You won't be disappointed

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

@@johnmmiller Stockroom supply has some really cool tools for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

They sell the drum sander as a kit. That's how I bought it. You get either a 18" or 24" drum, bearings, pulleys and a link belt. You can buy a top or make one. You'll need to make a box for it and there are instructions on how to do that. They sell motors or you could buy one locally. Hope this helps.

[@robertcornelius3514]

Honestly, try wrapping the left side of the drum with 60 and the right side with 100. I just may order this kit for myself.

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

Yeah, the 60 grit would make short work of things. The 3/4 horse power motor wouldn't even slow down with this machine.

[@mauricelavergne3434]

Hey Paul just got my 24” flatmaster kit, going to start building the box this week, just wondering what you used for your top when you made your 18” box and top, did you use a laminate on the top? Also wondering when using stainless steel frets should I radius them to the exact radius of the fretboard? I alway make my fretboards a 12” radius and put a 10” radius on nickel silver frets and they sit real nice. Should I radius they S/S frets to 12”?

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

I actually purchased the top from Stockroom supply also. If I where to make one, I would use MDF, glue a couple pieces together to make it thicker and laminate it with some of that material that is used on kitchen counter tops. It may be vinyl, not sure. They also sell metal tops to place on top or the MDF tops. As far as SS frets, I keep the radius the same because it will generally want to spring back to the over radiused shape. Nickle silver I over radius a little. It won't spring back. That's just my experience with it.

[@mauricelavergne3434]

Hi Paul,this looks like a great tool, it looks to me that it acts as a wide jointer as well. Once I flatten out my two body pieces on my jointer and square the ends I glue it up but never seem to be able to get the joint perfectly flat, I then have to go to a local shop that has a 16” helical jointer and pay about 30.00 to flatten my two piece body blank so I can then run it through my drum sander to get the thickness right. Very expensive. I think this could replace the 8” jointer I have and possibly do more things than the jointer can do. What do you think? Regards Maurice

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

I agree. I've used one of these flat sanders for years and I can tell you, it will work for you. Just at theat $30 up over time, it could pay for one of these tools. Good luck! Thanks for watching!

[@mauricelavergne3434]

By the way another great video.

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

I appreciate that and thanks for watching!

[@lylewaters6161]

Great video. This looks like an interesting product. I have to admit that I was a bit turned off in the beginning when you said that the table wasn’t flat right out of the box. I mean with a name like Flatmaster I’d expect it to be flat and not have the end user have to mess with putting strips of tape to even out the top. This still bothers me a bit but I kept watching and I saw how you were able to make the boards flat. I do have a Dewalt thickness planar, but it produces more snipe than I’d like and it’s only 13” wide. I didn’t hear you mention snipe at all n your video and the boards looked like you got them pretty flat. I did notice at the end when you had your hands resting on the top it looked like it had some flex/give to it. Looks like the top is made out of 1/4” aluminum or something. Not sure how much this device costs, but it does look good. Or with your 13+ years of experience with the previous model, you’re really good at using it. Thanks for the video, I thought your audio was ok, didn’t bother me at all, but I’m 50+ (bad hearing?) and watching on an iPad mini.

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

It really doesn't flex when using it. I do wish it had a thicker MDF board under the steel top though. It truely does flatten out lumber nicely. Thanks for watching!

[@BiIIyCrackCorn]

get a microphone, the audio is terrible

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

I'm actually using a mic, and I agree it doesn't sound all that great. I could use something better but, honestly, I usually don't even use a mic at all and I think that's better. No offense but, I'm not looking to win an academy award here. I'm a guitar builder in a work shop trying to get info out to the guitar building public, not a content creator in a studio. Anyway, thanks for the tip and Thanks for watching.

[@BiIIyCrackCorn]

@@lesperanceguitars8381 the audio makes it unwatchable, I do see you have a mic, it sounds as though the mic level is possibly too high

[@lesperanceguitars8381]

Sounds like I haven't found the right mic for the job. Any suggestions from yourself or anyone else out there of where I can get a good mic system without breaking the bank would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[@robertcornelius3514]

@@lesperanceguitars8381 , The audio isn't terrible. It's good enough.

[@Motocicleiros]

Not really.