Official Luthiers Forum!

Todd, I do a cross grain patch, as thick as the side, full height, going at least an inch on either side of the port. I have a mating caul and epoxy it in place. Kerfing goes on top of the patch. I don't open the port until after the guitar is bound because I use the luthiertool rigs which I find do a much better job particularly on wedged guitars.

Two layers of 6oz. fiberglass set with epoxy. Light weight, easy to do, and strong. Works for me.

There really IS fiberglass on the side in the photo!

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

I shape a round piece of hardwood, most likely the same as the bindings, and glue it with matching purfling scheme. I drill with a forstner bit before gluing the plates. I've been experimenting with diameter and thickness, visually, not sure it makes a difference tonewise.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

On the only one I've ever done, I used a .040" blk/ .020" maple (full width) ply lam on the inside, intending that it would also add a subtle "purfling" accent when cut out.

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Dave
Milton, ON

Essentially the same as most -- laminates that pretty much equal the thickness of the side, extending to the linings top and back. I do not use a cross-grain laminate due to (probably unnecessary) concern about expansion/contraction. I frequently use a contrasting veneer to match the purfling.

The fiberglass laminate is cool! Not sure I'd do it but it makes a LOT of sense.

The only side crack I have on where I used a cross grain laminate. The crack's only 1/8" long, and isn't going anywhere, but it's there. I now use a....double side from the neck block to the waist when I'm going to install a soundport. I'll get a picture tomorrow.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Ive done both laminated veneers as well as a solid piece same thickness as the side.

Forgive the bad photography.
Here's a picture of the soundport crack on the guitar with the cross grain reinforcement. It's hard to see, so I drew and arrow pointing toward it.


Here's what I'm doing now for reinforcement. The reinforcement goes from the neck block to the waist. (The guitar isn't finished, I'll clean it up inside, and erase the pencil marks)

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

After Xmas I made my first soundport.

Back&sides of this GC are Cocobolo; inside the box is lots of Mahogany. So I thought it would give it a nice touch by reinforcing the soundport with Mahogany and Cocobolo. Including the side it ads up to a solid .24".