Erlewine ShopStand

V-5390

Dan Erlewine shows how his ShopStand replaces a workbench for guitar repair, buffing, and all instrument work.

Video Transcription

Dan Erlewine: I'm Dan Erlewine and this is the ShopStand. It's a solid column mounted to the floor. It's height adjustable and it rotates, supported by this roller bearing. I used to have my workbench mounted right here, and I replaced it with the ShopStand because it takes up so much less space, it's less wobbly, and it does a lot more.

My workbench

Right now I have my Neck Jig clamped into an Angle Vice that I bolted to the ShopStand. With this, I can tip a guitar into the playing position and lock it there while I do fret work or setup work. With a repair vice and a scrap of carpet, this has become my main workstation.

Uses for the ShopStand

There's a lot of uses for a solid stand like this, especially if you have the angle vice, because any tool that has a wooden base can be clamped in and out of it, in seconds. Like right now, I have my belt sander in it, and it's the perfect height for making nuts and saddles. Without having to cut down on my knees, I bring the work to me.

The ShopStand is drilled to accept the Guitar Repair Vice. It's also drilled and tapped to accept an angle vice, which holds anything. This buffer hangs on my wall when I'm not using it, and the ShopStand is the perfect buffering stand. It's so solid and rigid.

Here's a buffing tip. Keep the piece moving and move in circular motions, sort of like that, like steering a car. That's the way they do it at Gibson, and you won't get streaks in one direction that way.