I have not had much time for working on ukes the last few days but made a little progress yesterday and today with end caps and fretboards.
Here are the three pieces to apply, The ebony endocarp. and two thin pieces of veneer that will provide a black/white accent. The black will be set beside the lighter brown neck wood.
Here they are, glued and clamped
Now each instrument has an ebony end cap roughly shaped and trimmed. It will take a lot more standing and shaping after the fretboards are attached; That is the next step. I measured and sawed the final shape and taper into the ebony boards this afternoon. Next, I will install the mother of pearl dots, cut the shape that matches with the rosette, and install the frets, They are going to look good. This ebony has a little striping and I think I will like that.