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Glue on the back brace
Glue on the short top braces
Cut the short top braces to length, and trim their ends to
the angle shown in the blueprint . Note that 1/8" of each end
will overlap onto the cross braces . Apply glue and clamp
the braces in place with 3 clamps . Start clamping at one
end, then clamp the center, and clamp the other end last
(this method allows the top to bend and match the curve
of the brace) .
Use wood scraps as cauls to protect the top from the clamp
jaws .
Glue the back brace on using three or four clamps in the
same method: working from one end to the other to retain
the arch .
The raised kerfed linings and neck/tail blocks need to be
sanded to meet the sides at a slight angle . This angle allows
the linings to match the arched top and back for gluing . Use
the sanding stick to do this: attach a 7" strip of fresh 80-grit
sandpaper to the 20" stick . Fasten this piece of sandpaper
about 7" in from the end of the stick .
At the opposite end of the stick, fasten the 4" piece of ply-
wood with glue or double-stick tape . This raised section will
rest on one side of the mandolin rim while the sandpaper
works on the opposite side . The thickness of this plywood
piece raises the sanding stick to an angle, so the sanding
creates the necessary angle for gluing the top and back .
While sanding, keep the 4" shim block on the rim of the
instrument, and work the sandpaper on the edge directly
opposite . Keep the sanding stick positioned across the center
of the mandolin, and work your way around the circle of the
rim . Don’t stay too long on any spot: keep moving as if your
sanding stick were the hands of a clock . Put pencil marks on
the linings and blocks and sand until the marks are gone .
Sand the kerfed linings
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