Bracing the top

20210403
Next step will be bracing the top.
One of the major consideration when bracing for this top is stiffness.
The top itself will be stiffer than most tops so I will be going lighter on the bracing.
For that reason, I am opting for a 5 fan bracing with cross bracing.

Brace layout

Preparing the braces

20210408
So I began to brace the top using the go-bar.
I started with the cross brace first as this will be below the fan braces (different from my usual bracing).
As the brace is about 3mm high (or lower) it can easily conform to the doming.
Following that the glue down the central brace.
For this bracing scheme I need to notch the bottom of the brace for the cross brace.
After that it is clamped similarly with go-bar

Gluing cross brace

Gluing central brace

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Then I continue with the rest of the fan braces.
I also glued the donut for the soundhole reinforcement

Gluing the fan braces

Gluing the donut

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Next the braces are carved roughly to the approximate height
Once that is done, the closing braces are glued.
Further carving will be done to tune the sound and stiffness

Fan brace carved roughly

Gluing closing brace

Carving braces

Bracing done

Bracing done another view

20210421
Next step is to carve the donut to shape, it will taper from the centre to the outer rim.
The donut is wider than normal to support the wide rosette in the top.
The weight of the donut was reduce from >20g to <10g.
It include a protruded lip for the tornavoz.
I also prepare the side braces and glued them.
The side braces extend into the top to transfer the vibration unto the top part.
This will enhance the trebles especially for notes in the 12th frets vicinity.

Initial wt of the donut

Final wt of the donut

Gluing the donut

Gluing the side braces

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Next the UTB and LTB are prepared, weighed and glued.
As usual, my TB are always opened
This gives a more open sound.

UTB and LTB weighed

Gluing LTB

Gluing UTB

Another view

Bracing done for top