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Please describe tools and method for cutting a hole in cookie tin

So far knife and box cutter is all I've used. It works but it's very difficult. I'd appreciate any tools and or methods used by others to cut a space for wood to pass through. Thank you very much!

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on January 3, 2013 at 9:18pm

Great! I will study your posts and re-read them many times until it sinks in. I really appreciate your detailed explanations. I am grateful for your quick replies. It might take me some time to make a neck like you've explained as I have some arm pain that sucks. I have made a few cbgs over the past month but want to make one like you've outlined. Once again thank you. I'll get back on cbn when I've made some progress. Thank you very much!

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Permalink Reply by Mark Mowatt-Wilson on May 6, 2013 at 12:38pm

I use a jewellers piercing saw (about $20) to cut tins.I support it using a v block (a scrape of wood with a v cut it). I've cut circles and squares with no distortion. It's also very fast.I drill a starter hole to pass the blade through.I tried cutting discs but they wear out quickly and are harder to control . Most tin snips bend or distort the tin. I have used discs and snips successfully but I find the jewellers saw very easy to use .They also cut 3mm birch ply quickly and without splintering (which is common when cutting with a coping saw).

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Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on August 14, 2013 at 2:18pm

On my latest cookie tin build I am not cutting at all.

I 5 minute epoxied a wooden bracing block on the inside pushed the edge of the tin over and hammered it flat.a similar block at the tail holds the neck flatish and 5 minute epoxy will keep the lot together

Squooshed the lid flat and hammered it down.

This will also give me some sound holes next to the neck

Will see soon if I will need some epoxy or side screws to keep the lid down.

As it is a Uke the neck is quite thin.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on August 14, 2013 at 4:46pm

interesting technique. ...how do you keep from ruining/ knicking the surrounding part of the tin?

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Permalink Reply by Titch the Clown on August 14, 2013 at 9:25pm

By only using my fingers till the last minute and only doing final flattening with the hammer.Getting the bottom to bend in was ridiculously easy as it was bending in the unstressed direction and I had a solid backing block to support the bend . Getting the top to bend out introduced some kinks but with a little patience and some gentle tapping with a hammer there were no issues. Even if there were I would have got away with calling them character features.;)

With the lid on this is what it currently looks like

On the inside it looks like this

Am about to mark out and slot the fretboard

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Permalink Reply by smilingdog1 on August 14, 2013 at 10:43pm

Punching a hole can be a problem. Although it's probably wise to use the right tool for the job, we sometimes have to use what is at hand. I usually practice on similar materials 1st before attempting anything on a nice piece.