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I am thinking about doing my first soundport on my current build and I'm wondering what are the methods you guys use. I have not decided whether to make it a circle, an oval, or some other design... I have seen the use of a template clamped to the guitar with a laminate trimmer. Some folks use a hole saw and I'm sure many folks use files. What is the method you use? Any other helpful comments are appreciated...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Some info in this thread you might find useful: http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=20334&hilit=sound%2Aport%2A

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Simple - No template or clamps required.

1 -Draw your shape
2 - Drill 1/8" holes inside the lines
3 - Dremmel cut out by cutting between holes
4 - Sand with sanding drum to shape
5 - Bind
Steps 1 through 4 take me about 5 minutes

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I drilled mine by hand and then shaped manually.

A router template would be fine, as long as you plan to build multiple guitars using the same shape. In this case they would make the process a bit quicker, and your shape more consistent.

On the other hand, if you are doing one-off designs, or don't otherwise case to repeat your shape, a template is definitely not necessary

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Jim Hansen

I draw it out on cad using cross hairs , then tape to sides with the centerlines drawn and use dremel and stewmac router base to rout..finish up with sandpaper ...easy!!

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MK5acoustics.com

Drill two 1/2" holes near each end (I like ovals) then jig saw the shape out, follow up with small drum sander in drill, then hands sand. Takes me 20 mins.

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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

Don't do a round hole, I did my 1st sound port round and I hate it, looks like a entrance hole for a bird house. Ovals are just as easy and look much better. The paper template stuck onto the side is what I do also, I don't bind mine but that should not be a big problem to do.

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I use my teeth

Could you do a video or post pix?? Maybe put them in the "Fixture, Video and Picture Tutorials" section!!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

drill with various bits than use Dremel"s accessories to finish