Tips/tricks for cleaning up the inside of F holes?

[Darren Kern]

My kit's F holes are pre-cut, and they look pretty good but I'd like to clean them up some. What's the best way to do this? Also, a couple of the points have a little bit of "fuzzy" frayed wood on them, I'd like to know the best way to make these points look cleaner and more defined. Thanks!

[sunburst]

I use sanding sleeves for a spindle sander for the round holes at each end, and emory boards (like for your fingernails) for the part in the middle.
Spindle sander sleeves might be hard to find, and expensive for one mandolin, so, sandpaper glued to dowels will work just as well.

[Antlurz]

Might try some small sharp metal files. They will do a good job in the appropriate places.. just like a scraper will.

You just want to be conscious of the direction the grain is running.

Ron

[sunburst]

You have to be careful with files. It's real easy to leave little washboard looking places where the file teeth "chatter". That's why I use emory boards.

(I use files on my fingernails. Same ones I use on nuts, frets, etc. Just takes a couple of minutes. )

[Antlurz]

You have to be careful with files. It's real easy to leave little washboard looking places where the file teeth "chatter".

That's exactly right! It takes some care to do, and The files I use for wood, I have bought strictly for wood, so they remain razor sharp. WEll, maybe not "razor" sharp, but I keep the ones I use for metal seperate. and I use small detail files too.

Anyhow, I agree that they may not be for everyone.

Ron

[Luthier Vandross]

I trim them clean with my pocket knife. Randy actually cuts his out with a pocket knife!

!!


M

[sunburst]

I've carried and used pocket knives for 40 years. I do more things than I'd really like to admit with pocket knives, but, I can't seem to keep the angle right trimming F holes. Also, I have trouble with the spruce grain trying to cause "facets" in the curves. And, I stain and finish the edges of my F holes, and the knife-cut surface doesn't match the sanded top surface as well.

I don't have a good one, but I think I'd get along better with one of those knives that violin makers use. One with a wider blade, beveled on one side only, but, emory boards work for me.

(I'm not arguing with anyone, BTW, just explaning how I came to do the F-hole the way I do. There are as many correct ways to do it as there are luthiers.)