Official Luthiers Forum!

Just wondering if anyone cuts their sound port before bending the side. I actually use my scroll saw to do a lot of my fine cutting, and was thinking that it might be easier to cut out a sound port with my scroll saw before I bend the sides assuming I can get the port oriented correctly. Thanks.

Bend first

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Like Steve said, bend first. Otherwise it's difficult to get a smooth bend.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

What Steve said, because:
If you cut the hole first, that section of the side will bend more easily so you're likely to get a kink at the center of the hole. Of course, now that you're aware of that potential problem, you can take measures to avoid it, such as using a good backing strip when you bend near the port.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

+1
Remember also that you are better to laminate a Side Port area to strengthen it anyway

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Clearly the consensus is to bend and then cut. I will reinforce the area. Thanks guys!