Mario, which side do you cut from?
You've lost me... ?
??
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| What do you cut a soundport with? http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=16945 |
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| Author: | Anthony Z [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | What do you cut a soundport with? |
I am going to cut a small elliptical soundport in guitar I am working. The sides are quilted maple and I have reinforced the area to be cut with four (4) layer veneer sandwich lamination. What cutting device do you folks use? |
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| Author: | Zach Ehley [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I use a dremel with a fishtail bit to rough it out and them use a sanding wheel to edge up to the line. All by hand with the stewmac base. I'm assuming you could do some fancy fixture, but freehand worked for me. |
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| Author: | grumpy [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I use a 1-1/4" brad point forstner bit, then shape with files or whatever's handy.... |
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| Author: | Andy Zimmerman [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I do it like Mario A drill bit then files....but mine is a dogprint soundport |
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| Author: | Anthony Z [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Mario, which side do you cut from? |
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| Author: | Bob Long [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Z...I print out the shape I want and just glue this paper template onto the side... then I use a forstner bit that matches the radius of the ends of the ellipse, to drill a hole in each end. Then just connect the dots with a coping saw blade and files. I do all this after the body is built. long |
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| Author: | Wes McMillian [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Just retrofitted one in an existing guitar. Again, same as Mario, 1 1/4 forstner for starters, shape with whatever. For my design, I did some further freehand with a Dremel and router base, then finished with sandpaper wrapped around a short length of 1/2" pipe. My first soundport, and I really like the effect! |
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| Author: | grumpy [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Mario, which side do you cut from? You've lost me... ? ??
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| Author: | Rod True [ Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I'm pretty sure Anthony doesn't have the back or top glued on the rims yet, so he's asking what side you drill from: outside or inside. Anthony, I think what ever you do make sure you have a backing board to take care of any possible chip out from the bit cutting through the exit side. Make an inside block like the spreader blocks, drill from the outside in. The convex curve on the outside will more easily hold the tip of the fostner bit where as the inside concave bend will not contact the tip first rather the outside edges of the bit. I seem to recall that Howard has a hole in his outside mold for guiding his drill for cutting his soundports. |
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| Author: | Billy T [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 1:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Anthony Z wrote: What cutting device do you folks use? 
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| Author: | TonyKarol [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I am sure its buried in the archives, but a few months back I posted the jig I use .... template of the port shape with a clamping rig under it, which clamps against the top and back .. or the edges of the sides if they arent on yet. I dont cut them in now until the guitar is ready for pore fill round 2. Besides, the Luthier tool purfling cutter jig will fall into the hole if done any earlier. So, the jig, then a lam trimmer with a guide collar, you pick the size and that determines how big the port will be, and a 1/4 inch downcut spiral. I have cut ports into finished guitars with this rig, and not even chipped/marked the finish (Z - I recently made the Dragonfly port larger ... not a scratch). When doing this, I finish the edge of the hole with some danish oil. |
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| Author: | TonyKarol [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
AZ .. check the Rod True post .. I posted the jig pic in there. |
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| Author: | Colin S [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:34 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I use a drill-piloted hole saw, then files. After sawing and before the filing I add laminate reinforcment on the inside. Colin |
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| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Rod True wrote: I'm pretty sure Anthony doesn't have the back or top glued on the rims yet, so he's asking what side you drill from: outside or inside. Anthony, I think what ever you do make sure you have a backing board to take care of any possible chip out from the bit cutting through the exit side. Make an inside block like the spreader blocks, drill from the outside in. The convex curve on the outside will more easily hold the tip of the fostner bit where as the inside concave bend will not contact the tip first rather the outside edges of the bit. I seem to recall that Howard has a hole in his outside mold for guiding his drill for cutting his soundports. Not me. I usually don't build with the sides in a mold. I bore freehand from the inside, holding the outside against a backing block (an outside mold can be the backer). Helps to have an angle drill for working in a tight space. If you are using a Forstner (or its sawtooth variants) bore from the inside. Seems counterintuitive at first; usually you want to enter a bore from the side that shows, since the splitting is on the exit. But that's for flat pieces. The important thing here is that when you bore from the inside of a curved piece, you are cutting downslope to the grain, while from the outside, you hit the grain cutting upslope. I was surprised at first that I had more chipping boring from the outside until I thought about it. |
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| Author: | Conspiracy [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I'm ramping up for my first build and this topic is really interesting to me. All of you seem to be cutting the port after the sides have been bent. Why is that? It seems that it would be much easier to make the cut and then bend the wood. I suppose there's an increased risk of breakage doing it that way but I would think that keeping the wood damp enough would guard against that. Oh and thanks for the great forum, I've been lurking for a while I've studying up for my first build. -Jim |
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| Author: | TonyKarol [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 2:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
well Jim .. if you saw my jig in use, where it takes all of three minutes to set up and make the cut .. I cant possibly see how its any easier. Plus if you do it before you bend, you better have the sides marked out exactly for the waist, and where the port will be, and centred top to back etc .... then hope its where you want it afterwards. Not saying it cant be done, but its certainly not easier. |
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| Author: | Conspiracy [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
TonyKarol wrote: well Jim .. if you saw my jig in use, where it takes all of three minutes to set up and make the cut .. I cant possibly see how its any easier. Plus if you do it before you bend, you better have the sides marked out exactly for the waist, and where the port will be, and centred top to back etc .... then hope its where you want it afterwards. Not saying it cant be done, but its certainly not easier. Ah yes I see your point. I will now be adding that jig to my build list. Thanks for the response. |
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| Author: | Anthony Z [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Gents, thank you all for your timely and helpful replies. I am now torn between using a forstner bit or making a jig as Tony showed in Rod's thread. Decisions...decisions all of which made easier with the guidance provided. I really appreciate the help. Cheers, Anthony |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
AZ, make one of those jigs like Tony's, we can try it out on Grace next weekend when I'm out there 
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| Author: | Anthony Z [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Rod -- better idea -- why don't we just borrow Tony's  Who is Grace? Actually, Tony's jig got me to thinking of making one that will do soundports and end-grafts with just a change of routing templates. |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
Your right, we'll borrow Tony's  Grace is my latest guitar which I'll be bringing with me, hope there's room at the inn with all the great guitars at your place for her. I think that's a great idea, to make one for muti use end grafts/sound ports. |
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| Author: | j.Brown [ Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I pencil my design/shape on the guitar after the body is done and free hand it with a dremel. Then I finish it with small files and sandpaper. I reinforce it with veneer after the sides are lined. -j. |
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| Author: | Steve Saville [ Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: What do you cut a soundport with? |
I use a nice sharp drill that is less than 1/8" and drill many holes around the inside of the perimeter. Then I cut out the hole with a home made saw and sand to shape with a 3/4" sanding drum. Make sure your drill and saw are sharp, especially the saw, or you can split the wood. Don't ask me how I know this. ![[headinwall]](./images/smilies/headbangwalluf8.gif "Mad") Here is a picture. 
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