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New builder here! 

My intentions are to add a rosette to a complete acoustic guitar body without the neck.  Of all my luthier books, I find their method creates a rosette route before the soundhole has been cut. 

Since the body is already complete, I do not have that option.  Any ideas?

My best option was trace my route and CAREFULLY freehand it with my Dremel/Router base around the edges. 

Don't freehand it.

If your soundhole is a true circle, you could use a gramil and set it to follow the soundhole. Make the cuts, chisel it out.

Alternatively, you could cut a circle out of some scrap wood using a basic rosette cutting setup, put it in the hole securely (I'd use one of those brace clamps under it and maybe a drop of superglue) and route a rosette indexing off the same pin.

You could also just not have a rosette. You could also just bind the soundhole for a nice clean look.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

The soundhole is a true circle. 

What is a gramil?  I've got an idea, but google.com doesn't really know either. 

Your alternative ideas also sound good, also.

You're talking about binding the soundhole just as you would bind the sides, etc. . . in the same orientation?  It appears that either one would have to trim the binding, or install it differently from the orientation of the binding. 

 

This is a gramil. and hand held channel cuter the bar indexes an edge and the cutter is spaced at the required interval for th channel

Fortunatly I've forgotten the mistake that I was trying to fix but I do remember having to make a circle of wood to fill a soundhole and create a new center to rout from.  Just make it a good snug fit and put a leg under it that rests on the back and keeps it in place.  You don't want the circle popping out while you're routing.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

It can be a hard thing to do, as you need to know imho a known center, unless doing gramil and chisels. Go without a rosette on this one if can and remember the next time.

I did this once. I braced up a top before I cut the rosette. I did as was suggested and cut a plug the exact size as the soundhole. I make mine out of 3/4" plywood to reduce the chance of it popping out. It will have a 1/4" hole in the center from your circle cutter. Squeezed it into the hole, taped it in place and went to town with a circle cutting router. I do like the idea of the post to prevent you from pushing it into the guitar.

purfling/soundhole cutting guide

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

You'll have to put something inside the soundhole for it to ride on.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Just goes to show how important the sequence of operations is in guitar making. Always think ahead several moves before cutting wood.