After running the soundboard through the thickness sander, sanding away the rosette backing-here is the result. This spalted maple lights up when it is finished, and I was very pleased with the fit. Hard to get it much better.
Here is the new soundboard, thinned down almost to playing thickness. The final sanding will do that. The streaks in this ancient cedar will make this a distinctive uke.
I found myself entirely out of labels. This is a piece of 300 lb watercolor paper that I just painted with my signature Orange, a Daniel Smith color. When dry I will cut it up into label size pieces and be ready for the next generation of instruments. Watercolor paper is very strong, tough paper. It not only provides a label but also adds fine strength to tie the back sides together. I admit this is pretty bright and wild, but it tones down inside the ukulele and brightens up an already happy instrument.
Now all the binding is on and looking good. It is time to shape and sand down the binding to be level with the sides.
| The next project is to fit an end piece into this space. |
Back to the "Journey" for a moment. These two braces for the tone board. I need to make several tone bars and glue them on.