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Top 10 Cigar Box Guitar Building Hacks

Cigar Box Nation member, Gary Sheldon started an amazing discussion on cigar box guitar building hacks. We just had to share a few nuggets with you:

Table Salt & Glue Hack: When doing a difficult glue joint, like a fretboard or scarf joint, put a tiny tiny pinch of table salt on the glue after spreading it. It does a great job of letting the pieces grip each other without slipping while applying clamps.
Paraffin Wax & Tiny Screws Hack: When installing those tiny screws on the back of the tuning machines, rub the screw threads over a bar of soap or parafin wax to make them easier to drive and lessen the probability of stripping the screw head.
Tuner Spacing: Keep about an inch and a half distance from the nut to the nearest tuner post. It'll give you less string hop, better string path, better pressure on the nut.
Stringing Hack: When stringing a CBG, once you pull the string through the ferrule/rivet and the ball end is tight against the bottom, bend the string on the top side at the string ferrule/rivet... Keeps the string from running away on you.
Testing The Box: Don't glue a box closed until you've played it a bit... Sometimes the oddest things cause buzzing and it's hard to fix if you already glued it closed.
Laquer Curing Tip: If you use spray lacquer to clean up a box's finish, or protect a label, let it dry at least 5 days before you put a clamp on it... or at least put some wax paper between the clamp and the box.
Glue Tip: Allow glue to tack up before joining.
Planning is Everything: Always maximize the materials. Think of the most economic way to use/cut materials. This comes from planning...
Wax on Fret Saw Hack: Candlewax on your fretsaw makes cutting the slots easier on very hard wood.
Community of Friends: Use everybody as a resource. I am so inspired by the people on this site/community.

Do you have a cigar box guitar building hack? Share it with us here!

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Permalink Reply by Edward Hardin on March 17, 2016 at 10:04am

I use my old army knife(which has a saw blade on the back side of the blade) to make fret marks and to file down areas to small for my rasp

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on March 17, 2016 at 11:52am

There have been a couple of these threads I the past... The tip I use most is to drive 2 staples into the scarf joint and cut the head off before gluing. I find it works better than salt.

When making fretboards, I make them a smidge wide. That way when I glue them to the neck, I can sand the edges smooth. Then I install and level the frets.

When using dot inlays, don't try to drill a perfect hole. leave the inlay proud (sticking up) then go to the belt sander with a fine or worn out belt to make them perfectly level.

15/64ths is darn close to 6mm when using inlay dots. (Ymmv)

When making a scarfed headstock, drill the tuner holes before gluing the headstock on.

A new utility blade makes a good fret rocker.

Measure twice. Trust your eyes. If it does not look right, measure two more times...

Never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line!

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Permalink Reply by LeftFinger on August 10, 2016 at 8:04am

6mm is .243

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Permalink Reply by JL on March 18, 2016 at 12:39am

My Favorite Hack -- BANDSAW

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Permalink Reply by BP - RabidSalad - on March 19, 2016 at 4:00am

I'd say if you lost them.... you probably didn't need'm anyway... so carry on and try not to bleed on the wood... hhhmmm can blood be used as a wood stain???

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Permalink Reply by BP - RabidSalad - on March 19, 2016 at 8:30am

Is it permanent?!?!? )

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on March 19, 2016 at 7:10am

Crap, I thought you were talking about hack builders and hoped to see my name on the list.

Truly some good tips and reminders there. Thanks. Number 9 could help me. Number 3 is kind of a pet peeve of mine. I learned it the hard way. And I try to kindly tip other builders on it.

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Permalink Reply by gary sheldon on May 6, 2016 at 1:18am

I had never heard of #9 before. I will try it.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 22, 2016 at 8:05am

When glueing a fretboard to a neck: I first do a dry clamp in place where I want it to be, drill 2 small holes through at each end of the fretboard and into the neck that are big enough for a couple of small nails/pins. Drilling through the fret slots will hide the holes. Take the fretboard off and apply the glue. Put the 2 pieces together with the nails/pins in place and clamp it up. Once the glue starts to set up, remove the nails/pins. Everything stays in place and the frets cover the holes.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 22, 2016 at 8:11am

Cheap side markers and fret markers can be made from wooden dowels, colored pencil lead, colored plastic coat hangers, glitter with clear glue or colored plastic shavings with clear glue.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on March 22, 2016 at 8:37am

I just drill a hole 1/4" deep for side markers, fill with super glue, stand the sharpened pencil up in the hole and saw the pencil off at the side of the neck and finish with sandpaper after it dries.

The fret markers I do before putting the board on the neck. Drill a hole all the way through and glue in dowel or piece of hanger. If you go the glue and glitter or shavings route, just put some duct tape on the back side til it dries and remove, sand both sides before neck/board assembly.plastic coat hanger dots

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Permalink Reply by jeffrey ross on March 27, 2016 at 5:41am

Well, my wife is about to lose some pretty plastic hangers. I love this hack and will be putting inlays in my next fret board. I usually just use a burn tool and always wondered how to put nicer markers in. Sooooo many possibilites!!!!!