Cigar Box Guitar

Step 2 Cut the Cigar Box

You will need to make several cuts in your cigar box.  First you will need to make a hole for the neck to pass through the box on one end.  My cigar box had a square end (where the hinges are) and a rounded end (where the clasp is), so I put the neck coming out of the square end.  There are several different kinds of cigar boxes, so you can figure out what geometry works best for you.

Once you've picked a side to cut, measure and mark the center of that side lengthwise.  Make marks 3/4" on either side of this mark.  Measure and mark 3/4" from the top of the box (or the bottom; whichever side you want to be the front of your finished guitar).  Connect these marks with a ruler to make a 1 1/2" by 3/4" rectangle, in the center of one side and right against the top of the box.  Cut out this rectangle and test fit the neck.  The hole should fit horizontally but be too small vertically by about 1/8", or the thickness of the top of the box..  We will account for this in the next step by cutting a notch in the neck.

Now it's time to cut sound holes in the top of the box.  You can simply drill some holes with a hole saw, but I wanted some stylish f-holes, like a violin.  First I printed off a picture of a violin and taped it to the top of the box, being careful to center it as well as I could.  Then I drilled out the top and bottom of each opening, and connected them using the coping saw.  A thin blade and a lot of patience helps here.  You can finish off any rough edges with a file or sandpaper.