The jig adjusts for 2" to 6" diameter cuts for new guitar or ukulele soundboards.
Make a plywood workboard
Start by making a workboard large enough to support the entire instrument top (a flat piece of 3/4" plywood is ideal). Drill a hole for the 3/16" pin, located where the center of the soundhole will be. This hole must be drilled absolutely square to the workboard so the pin will be straight and the jig will turn accurately. Choose a drill bit sized so the pin press-fits tightly into the hole—it mustn't wobble. Drill all the way through, using the full thickness of the plywood to anchor the pin. The fitted pin will protrude 3/4" above the surface.
Attach the jig to the router base
Use the two screws provided to attach the Soundhole and Rosette Routing Jig to your router base.
Choosing the router bit
Use a fresh, sharp router bit for clean results. We strongly recommend our Carbide Downcut Inlay Router Bits because their downcut design greatly reduces fuzzy edges and tear-out in tonewoods.
It's a good idea to choose a bit that's smaller than the width of your inlay. A bit always cuts slightly larger than its diameter, so a channel created by a 1/8" bit may be a bit loose for a 1/8" purfling. It's better to cut multiple passes with a smaller bit to get exactly the snug fit you want. With very thin purflings (less than 1/8") this is not a problem, and you'll be able to match the cutter bit to the inlay. Follow the luthier's golden rule: Test On Scrap before cutting your guitar top! Also test various cutting speeds to find the best technique for the wood you're using.
Drill the center hole
Drill a 3/16" hole in the instrument top at the exact center of the soundhole. Fit the top onto the pin and tape the corners to the workboard. Place the jig onto the pin—the bronze bushing should fit snugly while turning smoothly in a full circle.
Set the diameter
Set the diameter of your cut by loosening the knurled locking nut and turning the adjusting screw. Use the guide ruler to watch the change in adjustment (this ruler is only a relative guide, since it references the center point of the bit, and the bit may be of any diameter). Firmly tighten the locking nut so that your setting doesn't change while cutting. Set the depth of cut on your router base to match your purfling, leaving the inlay slightly "proud" of the surface—to be sanded or scraped flush after installation. Don't rout too deep, or your inlay will sit below the surface of the guitar top.
Take care not to let wood chips get under the jig: this will cause uneven cutting depth.
After the rosette rings are routed, the soundhole itself can be cut out.
Shipping & Return
- Shipping
FREE SHIPPING ON ANY ORDER, ANYWHERE!
For orders from the United States, we ship them from the US, usually ship by USPS First Class (3-7 days), FedEx (4-7 days) or UPS Ground.
For orders from other counties except the United States, We ship your order from China, Shipping time is about 10-18 business days to arrive for most countries, and we also have Express shipping way if you want it to be faster, It takes around a week to arrive. All shipping methods are trackable.
We will send a shipping email with the tracking number to you once your order shipped.
- Return
We have a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase. To start a return or you have any return question, please contact us at elmerguitar@gmail.com.
Damages and issues
Please contact us if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Refunds
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.