Is there a helpful walkthrough for the process of cutting an oval center hole in an F4 style mandolin? Is it as simple as the F holes in an F5--just draw the pattern, protect the wood and use a coping saw? Or is there some other way?
I'm planning a series of three mandolins for my next project: two F5s and one F4. So that's the one fundamental difference (at least that I can foresee--corrections welcome!).
I cut an oval hole in my current build, an F-4 style. I printed out a variety of oval holes that I created on the computer. I found the one I was satisfied with and taped it to the top. I drilled a large enough hole to fit the blade of my table scroll saw. I cut it close then finished the hole using my oscillating drum sander. I like using the drum sander as one can control the removal of material more carefully than trying to cut the finished edge with a saw blade.
. So that's the one fundamental difference (at least that I can foresee--corrections welcome!).
-Mark P.
The fundamental difference is that the thickness and graduations of an F4 style is quite different to that of an F5. A search through the archives here will find diagrams of thicknesses.
If you don't have a spindle sander a length of 1" dowel with sandpaper wrapped around it works well for the final shaping.
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