Close the box!

20200919
Finally the day of the box being closed.
First before starting I will do a dry run of the process.
This helps to familiarise with teh actual process as well as keeps all the need tools and materials within the reach.
This is especially so if you are working with hide glue.
Clamps, wood blocks, hair dryer, hide glue, etc..
Just closing the box, I did a last check on the fit and plane fresh surface on the lining.
Then I began the process.

First I heat the rims with the hair dryer.
Then I proceed with applying the hide glue.
As the hide is already heated I can carry the bottle and apply it rim the rim in quick fashion.
Before gluing the back, I heated once again with hair dryer
Then I proceed with gluing in the back.
The clamp and blocks were applyed in place.
First the heel and end block.
Followed by blocks at the upper and lower bout.
Then the waist.
For the waist part, I apply an addition flexible wood strip to spread the force over the entire brace.
This is because the brace is glued to the rim not the back.
Similar for upperbout brace, I use blocks to spread the force across the brace area too.
Finally all blocks done.
Also for aligning the back, I use pins in the heel to ensure the alignment is centred.

Dry run

Glue the label

One final look before closing the box

Heating up the rim.

Box is closed

Another view

Another view

20200920
Next day I release all the cramps and started to trim the overhang...
Damn I slipped and cut my middle finger on the wood...
Anyway I use planes and chisel to trim the wood is sure hard to plane.

Clamp released

Closed box

Trimming the back overhang

Prepare for Close Box

20200627
The side braces are ready to be glued.
In the preparation of the side braes, my saw teeth was destroyed.
To glue the side braces, they need to be inlet into the lining or peones itself.
This is to prevent the side braces from exerting weakness on the sides as it is basically a cross brace on the sides.
Luckily this is ABW which is a very stable wood.

Saw teeth destroyed by the preparation of the side braces

Side braces prepared

Inletting the side braces

Inletting the side braces

Inletting the side braces

All side braces prepared and inletted

Ready for gluing

Gluing starts

Side braces all glued

Side braces all glued

20200704
Next is to prepare the backing for the sound port.
One thing have to be sure is not to mess up the position of the sound port.
It should be done at the side facing the player i.e. bass side.
Although one can argue to open 2 holes, but more sound port will cause degration to the low response of the sound.
So need to limit how many and size of sound port open.

The veneers were glued to the back of the position of the sides where the port will be opened.
A curved caul was made to ensure the veneers are clamp properly.

Gluing the backing for the sound port

Gluing the backing for the sound port

20200711
Next will be the cutting of the sound port itself.
The commissioner of the guitar prefers to have a star shape sound port
So but the problem of having a star shape is that it's not symmetrical.
So there need to be some form of orientation.
So I was deliberating the orientation of facing the player or straight with respect to the guitar.
Finally decision was to take reference to the guitar.

The hole was cut and file to shape nicely.

Facing the guitar.

Facing the guitar in player's viewpoint

Facing the player (at player's viewpoint)

Facing the player when straight

Sound port cut. A sneek preview of the elevated fingerboard geometry

Close up of the sound port

Closer view

20200903
I glued the tornavoz to the top also.

Glue the tornavoz to the top and support with peones

Tornavoz sanded

Added one more side brace at the end block to increase the total side brace weight to be about 400g

Closing the box

20180430
Finally the box is closed.
Before that I remembered to weigh the back.
However, I forgot to record the tap tone of the box and the back...

I did not do a dry run for the clamping but it was mistake.
As I glue the back, I could not insert the clamp on the heel area as the solera was blocked from below.
I had forgotten to allow some space for the clamps to go in.
Anyway I just clamp the rest first then proceed to shift the woods below to allow the clamp to go in.
So rule of thumb, always do a dry run if you have not been doing the process for a long time.

One last look before closing the box.

Ensure there is enough block to spread the clamping pressure

Apply the glue and heat them up so that they will not gel so fast

Glued and clamped.

20180507
I removed the clamps and check the fit.
No problem with the fit.
After that I proceed to trim the overhangs.
During clamping it helps to have about 5mm or so of overhang.

Trimming the overhang - assortment of tools used: Rebate plane, chisel, LA block plane, scraper etc...

Trimming the overhang

Overhangs trimmed

The back view

Prepare to close box

20180208
I glued the reinforce veneer to the sound port side.
I haven't decided whether to include a sound port for this build or not.
But I can glue-in the backing first.

Next I also glued in the middle back brace.
I just need to glue in the tornavoz and I am all set to close the box.

Glue the veneer backing for the sound port

Apply the clamps

20180302
I also make the tornavoz for the top.
Previously I have already thin the tornavoz wood, so for this session I just heat and bend it.
After that I just use the clamp to hold it in shape.
I have not decide the exact radius yet.

The bent toranvoz

The bending equipment. I use an additional iron to apply heat to both sides of the wood.

20180424
I drilled the sound port and glue on the tornavoz to the top.
The tornavoz was previously bent, I just glue up the tornavoz and glue the tornavoz to the top.
I decided to fit the tornavoz to the size of the soundhole instead of bigger and glued behind the sound hole.
So I trim off the excess tornavoz and glue the tornavoz ends together using the soundhole as clamp.

Glue the tornavoz ends together.

Next I glue the tornavoz to the top.
Surprisingly the tornavoz fitted the sound hole very well with no gaps.
After that I glued some peones lining block to support the tornavoz.

Glued the tornavoz to the top

Glue the lining blocks to support the tornavoz

Next I also drilled the sound port on the sides.
I did not follow my usual design as I wanted a smaller sound port so as not to affect the air mode too much.

Marking the location where to drill the sound port.

Clamp a backing to avoid blowout

Sound port done. Not very nice though...

20180430
I glue the first part of back seam support.
After that I paste my label on the back and signed the label.
To protect it I also coat the reinforcement and label with a thin coat of shellac.

Gluing the back seam reinforcement

Paste the label