Binding and Purfling

At Long last, we have a closed box.  We can't just leave it at that - the edges need to be bound, and decorative purfling strips added.

The binding have to be bent (like the sides), and a 'shelf' is carved out for the bindings and purflings.

Some additional carving has to be done where the binding fits into the heel.

After it's done...

 

 

 

Next Post:   A Couple More Parts

The Back

The Back

This is the back - it has been joined (two pieces glued together at the with the seam down the center), and thinned.  The next step is to add some braces to both reinforce it and shape it into a dome.

First, a strip is of cross-grain wood is glued down the center.  After gluing, it is shaped.

The three cross braces are what gives the back its domed shape.  A curve of 20' radius is planed into them.

After they all fit well, they are glued on.  The back is pulled into the 20' radius of the brace (not so difficult because at 2.3mm thick the back is pliable).

Here it is after the clamps have been removed.  The tops of the braces need to be shaped.

Brace shaping in progress...

With the braces shaped, the back has to be fit to the sides: just enough is cut off of the end of the braces for them to fit inside the sides, and a notch is removed from the binding for the brace end to fit into.  I neglected to take a picture of these notches, but they must be quite precise.

Oh, and a tail strip is inlaid at the bottom center.

Checking the angle of the neck to the body - it is the attaching of the back that fixes this angle.

Glued and clamped.  I'll let this sit overnight; tomorrow we have a box!

Next Post: Binding It Together