Official Luthiers Forum!

Guys,

I hope I don't wear out my welcome with all the questions

Do any of you use anything besides a band saw for roughing out your top/back shape from the joined wood?

That seems to be the tool I'm having trouble borrowing right now and I'm wondering if there is any way around it.

THANKS!

You can use a coping saw or a fret saw to cut out the shape of your top and back from the rectangular joined pieces. Even a jig saw or scroll saw will work if you want to use power tools.

_________________
Peter

Can use a jig saw but have to be careful because of the reciprocating action of the blade. Can have a tendency to rip off a sliver when cutting with the grain if you are not careful.

Thanks guys... I had thought about the jig saw but was scared for the reasons you mentioned.

The coping saw interests me - any recommendations on a specific one you use?

These days bandsaw, but it used to be a jigsaw with the oscillating action set to off (mine has 3 levels) and using a fine tooth 'no chip' blade. Works fine.

You can always use a sharp utility knife to score around and just work your way down. Takes longer but gets you there with no special tools required.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

3/4" thick 1/8" to the side over sized template with a through sound hole removable threaded hold down block, 1/8" upcut piloted flush cut bit in my laminate trimer.

Before i got the bandsaw, i used a scroll saw with a small blade which i still use sometimes.

I still use a scroll saw for stuff like this sometimes.

If you have a 1/4" thick template you could also use it with a router coller and bit to over size it a tad as an option. I think Mario leaves his rectangular pretty much and just trims it with a router and a 1/4" door and window Rotozip bit.

You can also the top is isn't shaped here in the hide glue video.

As has been mentioned, you could probably get away with using a jigsaw for cutting out the top/back to rough shape, with a fine blade, high speed , and perhaps a 'zero clearance' mouth added to the base (some saws have a plastic snap-in 'mouth').
I'd probably use a hand coping saw with a good support under the wood, and a fine blade. (I think the 'rule of thumb' is that you should have several teeth in the work at all times??).

I'd be careful about using a router for this job unless you have some experience (knowing what direction to cut,when to 'climb cut') and also have the correct cutter as Michael specified. It's very easy to split thin wood when routing, if you don't have good support and pay attention to the grain direction..

Not many will agree with me, but a (very) cheap small benchtop bandsaw can be handy for jobs like this and general utility cutting. I had a (mostly plastic as I recall) Black&Decker bandsaw for a while and cut all kinds of stuff with it. After the motor failed (I only had $40 in the saw, so I wasn't heartbroken) I adapted it to direct drive from a 1/3 hp motor I had around and cut all kinds of metal with it- bronze castings, etc. You see these on Craigslist cheap from time to time and they are a stopgap till you can afford ($ and space) to get a decent 14" saw.

Of course, Torres would probably have grabbed a knife and done this job by hand in about 2 minutes

Cheers
John