WORKSHOP
A B
CD
Fig. A: Fit the inlet pipe through one of the holes in the
plastic spindle base, and secure it on the inside with
more adhesive. Fig. B: Fashion a little screen “boot”
that slips over the end of the outlet pipe.
Fig. C: Glue a 2" section of pipe into the inlet elbow,
and glue the 45° joint onto the other end, angled back
down toward the spindle base. Fig. D: Screw the CD
spindle-cover canister into place.
weapon of choice is a hacksaw, but any saw or pipe
cutter will do.
3. Using a file, taper the uncut end of one 90° elbow
so that it fits the hose of your vacuum or attachment.
This is your outlet elbow. My vacuum takes a 1½"
input, but your mileage may vary, so here’s where
you’ll improvise.
4. Cut a ¾" section of pipe and squidge on a bunch
of silicone glue as you fit it into the cut end of the
second 90° elbow. Fit the pipe through one of the
holes in the plastic spindle base, and secure it on
the inside with more adhesive and the ¼" ring you
cut off. This is the inlet pipe (Figure A).
5. Make your outlet pipe the same way, but use a
1½" section of pipe. It should stick in 1" or so into
the CD spindle base.
6. Fashion a little screen “boot” that slips over the
end of the outlet pipe (Figure B). I hacked away
at my screen with scissors, and trial-fit the shape
onto a spare piece of pipe. When I got a form that
worked, I stapled around the form to hold the
shape in place.
150 Make: Volume 13
7. Glue the screen boot onto the end of the outlet
pipe with a lot of that silicone goo, and use more
to seal up its ragged edges.
8. Glue a 2" section of pipe into the inlet elbow,
and glue the 45° joint onto the other end, angled
back down toward the spindle base (Figure C). Fit
in a longer section of pipe, to serve as the nozzle.
I didn’t glue this last section, so that I could switch
to different lengths as needed.
9. Screw the spindle-cover canister into place
(Figure D), and it’s ready for use!
Putting It to Use
Using the Lost Screw Finder is a simple affair.
Sweep the area where the errant part was last
suspected, round up everything, and check the
contents of the dragnet. Most suspects stick to
the screen, right where you’d expect them.
Frank Ford is a founder of Gryphon Stringed Instruments in
Palo Alto, Calif., where he has been a full-time luthier since
1969. He’s a prolific writer, appearing in books, magazines,
and his website, frets.com.
