HTS Acoustic top swap 2

Same for the butt.

Next day, I run a small border of masking tape on the sides, this minimises any damage from the router.

Using a spade bit, I open the sound hole up.

Small trimming router with a trace bit fitted

I run the router around the soundhole and the border of the guitar, to flush cut everything.

Pop the mdf top off with a spatula at the 6 marked locations.

Whilst doing the top removal, I start joining the new top.

Attached bookmatching link

With the router, I now fit a smaller cutting bit in and just project it out around 2.5mm.

Flip the mdf over and align with the guitar

I always have a grid pattern on my mdf, it allows for alignement, here I am aligning one of the lines to the centre of my fretboard..

Apply some clamps and allow the glue to dry overnight.

Run it around the edge of the guitar freehand

On the opposite side of the mdf where the glue blobs are, I use a black marker to reference them.

Like so, its will leave the top in place and not cut all the way through, but removes the bulk of the wood.