Arm Bevel Time

So after a break while I was out of the country, it's back to finishing this MandoCello..

I carved out the arm bevel today, actually looks pretty good in the contrasting woods but it will eventually be covered in Rosewood to match the binding scheme. The carving of it actually went pretty quickly and easily. Hopefully the binding of the bevel does as well :-)

Bracing the Top

So time to cut the top braces to rough shape and glue them to the top. For the top I chose a 20' radius which is perhaps a bit tighter than normal but I believe (hope) it will work well with this instrument.

Gluing the X brace

Then the tone bars and finger braces

Next the upper transverse brace and plate (glues without a radius)

Lastly the soundhole supports (also without a radius)

The Back Meets the Sides

So the back is done and the braces are sanded so time to join it to the back.. Before the two parts meet the back was radiused to a 15' radius

The completed Back

Now joined to the sides

And labled

Bracing the Back

So the braces for the back are cut and sanded to a 15 foot radius then rough shaped on the band saw.

Then glued on in a go-bar deck..

Ready for final shaping and a quick voicing of the back.

Moving Along with the Body

So, kerfing is glued in and some laminated vertical bracing is glued in, now ready to be radiused and have the back then top glued on.

Since this is a bit thicker body I was thinking of doing and arm bevel but I've got enough new things going on with this build so maybe next time.

End Blocks & Kerfing

Now the end blocks are glued on, since the mortise is pre-cut in the neck block alignment needs to be precise.

After that the kerfing can be installed, and that is now half done.

I also tried come of these as clamps on the kerfing works good with lots of clamping pressure. Not too expensive..

Sides & Binding Bent

Ok so the sides and bindings are now bent and ready for the end block & tail block which are also ready..

Bending the sides

Routing the mortise in the neck or end block

Bent sides with the tail and end blocks sitting there waiting