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How do you cut those f-holes?

Having built a handful of CBGs, a biscuit tin or two (depending on how broad-minded you are), and currently working on my second LPG, I was today pondering the advice of a friend, who said that, rather than crafting necks to fit pre-made boxes, I should be making boxes to fit the 35mm x 20mm oak and mahogany I use for necks. That's certainly not beyond me- I built the box that backs the LPG, and it's sturdy and square of corner- and I've found a great source of 3mm BB birch ply. One thing really worries me though- how, with just a craft knife and a power drill, am I going to create elegant f-holes? Or, seeing as how craft knives don't cut curves, just short straight cuts, how do I fashion f-holes at all? Must I stick to upper-case F-holes, or are there simple dies out there that make the job easy?

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Permalink Reply by Wal Callaby on February 23, 2018 at 1:24pm

The future is right, Taff- there's two things on my workbench (read 'kitchen table') at the moment. One is basically cut plywood with an f-hole, the other is an LPG, and neither have necks yet- that's the next job. I'm thinking of going down the A4 plywood route in future though, so all ideas gratefully received!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on February 25, 2018 at 1:38am

Seeing your greeting "Hey Wal" reminded me of Bob Newhart's famous sketch where he's on the 'phone to Sir Walter Raleigh about tobacco.Looked it up on you tube,still made me laugh after all these years.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 23, 2018 at 2:03pm

Hi, what I was concidering with my response, was the traighter line sound holes as you said traight lines are more your thing. Check out arch top guitar "images"

Taff

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on February 23, 2018 at 7:31pm

And for some more "non-traditional stuff . google "silhouette" images for some cool ideas.

I have used a couple of these .

just be careful not to choose one with intersecting lines or inserts where the shape will fall into itself when cutting .

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Permalink Reply by Wal Callaby on February 23, 2018 at 11:37pm

Sorry Taff, misunderstood. Have now googled arch tops, and I must say I was disappointed. 95% were traditional, while the few others seemed to be trying to invent the wheel- going back to crescent shapes as in Jim's "f-holes thru time" presentation above. For my next few- where sound holes are needed- I think I'll play with the current idea a little. Gotta justify buying the brad points!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on February 23, 2018 at 3:29pm

F hole....or Dino DNA....lol

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Permalink Reply by Wal Callaby on February 23, 2018 at 11:39pm

A double helix version- now that WOULD be cool!

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on February 24, 2018 at 5:05am

My most unusual soundhole so far...

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on February 24, 2018 at 5:39am

That is sweet!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Wal Callaby on February 24, 2018 at 6:33am

Unusual. Did you offset the neck to match the stripes? How does it sound? (It looks LOUD)

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on February 24, 2018 at 7:14am

It is a uke, and yes the neck is offset to match the stripes. The stripes are like music notation and have little notes on them. It has a nice tone and good volume.