Hello everyone. I have a question about cutting sound holes in thin sheet metal.
I'm building a 4stringer with a nice 11"x8" or so metal box I want to cut a sound hole in the lid with out destroying it or cutting my hands up. So rather than just fire up my hole saw, I thought I'd better ask for help.

This is my first build using metal. I usually use wood.
Any advice, help, war stories etc. Welcome.

BlAck...aka Ron H

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Here's something I've seen HVAC folks use and is on my list of tools to get.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHEET-METAL-CIRCLE-HOLE-CUTTER-DRILL-ADJUST...

It's what I did. Marked an X to each corner, cut the x with a dremel, then bent the metal inwards. It gives little flaps to attach to the wood.

The dremel is ok for an initial cut, but if the surface has a nice paint/print finish, and you want a non round shape, simplest way is make a hole, then just use jewellers snips to shape it, it's very easy to overcut with a dremel cutting disc

12-gauge steel shot will make it look like a nice old resonator...

 I have used sharpened hole punches with scrap wood underneath.

Works fine.

Thanks for all the help.  I ended up using a hole saw in my battery powered hand drill.

Took it slow...worked fine. Didn't cut my finger until after it was done. I was checking to see how smooth it was..smooth and SHARP now I have to split some tubing and cover the edge of the hole.

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