Just like you need a good set of strings and a pick to play your guitar, you need the proper guitar building tools if you want to build a guitar.
With a good set of plans and some practice, making your very own instrument is definitely an attainable goal.
However, it's also important that you have the right tools or you'll find that your dream turns into a disaster in a hurry.
You'll need both stationary and hand tools to properly build a guitar.
We'll cover all the stationary guitar building tools and their uses here.
Bandsaw: A bandsaw is one of those tools that is absolutely required if you plan to build a guitar.
You'll use your bandsaw to cut all of your interior and exterior forms.
You'll also use it to make contour patterns, and for lots of rough cutting.
At a minimum, you'll want a bandsaw with a 14" throat width.
If you are planning to build multiple instruments or will use it for other woodworking projects, you may want to get one with an ever larger throat width.
Floor Mounted Sander: This is another guitar building tool that you absolutely need if you are serious about making your own instrument.
You'll use it throughout the building process for things like the front and back surface of your guitar, sanding fingerboards, contouring the interior bracing of the instrument, and lots of shaping.
Look for a model that allows for easy adjustment of belt tension, and a fence that can be removed with little effort.
Central Vacuum: Not really a stationary tool, you'll want to have a central vacuum system that you can hook directly up to your machinery to collect dust.
If money is a concern, this can wait - however, it's wise to make it a priority to purchase one.
You'll be working with some items that contain toxic fumes as you build your guitar, and it's wise to have a system to get that dust out of the air for your overall health.
Thickness Planer: Not quite as important as the bandsaw and the floor-mounted sander, a thickness planer is a great tool to have in any shop.
Again, if money is a concern, put this one at the bottom of your list.
It is useful for planing the top, back, and sides of your instrument.
You'll also use it to plane the neck, braces, and heel blocks.
If you purchase rough wood, you'll find that a thickness planer quickly becomes a necessity.
Remember, with the right guitar building tools, a good set of plans, and some practice and patience, making your own guitar is attainable for anyone.
  For more information on building a guitar, visit the guitar building section of Ultimate Guitar Online.