![DIY.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bertrayo/23tSKXijcUebj5H65jho6Qqnw5ZUAK5Jy3yDWWBdvYpTRfESizHfvp7s5cwqLenYvGtrh.png) https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bertrayo/Enyo4d2KNC9dwGuWMVoWdT9r7awN4qgRzhmXSAVcpnyFGVx2s9Vx9PFMvLJYQdCFZvJ.png
Hello there, my fellow artisans and handcrafts enthusiasts!
Welcome back to another year in the workshop and the continuation of the build we started some weeks ago. Last time, we had just begun the whole process of assembly. We even went a mile ahead and worked on the sides, bending them and adding the end block to get ready to put them in place. Let's get to it! ---
# Sides in place

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There is a lot of cutting involved in this process. For example, we need to make a cut to have the sides enter the slots on the right angle. Then we need to make another cut. This one on the end of the sides to make sure we get close to have them touch each other as they are glued in place. Spoiler alert, it was close but not enough. Once the cuts are ready, we get on to the glue up. We apply some glue to the sides and place them on top of the sound board. We just need to make sure each part is where it is supposed to go. That way we just need to apply some pressure to get the glue spread and have the sides stay in place. After the glue up, we start adding the pieces of the kerfing. These ones go a piece at a time. It is a process of patience. Applying glue one kerfing at a time and them apply pressure to let is stay in place. ---
# The rest of the reinforcements

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The rest of the pieces that go inside are there to add more surface to glue the back and also some other pieces to strengthen the sides. The kerfing for the back goes in one piece. We need to cut it and them soak them like the sides. Then we use the bender again and give these kerfing pieces the same curve of the sides. We let them dry properly clamp to the sides and them process to make a cut to make them fit from the heel to the end block. Then we apply glue and use the wood clamps to get everything held in place while we wait for the glue to dry up. Once we have that done, we can use some of the excess pieces of wood to cut the reinforcements for the sides. We trim them. Sand them. Then use some glue and tape to hold them in place and finish adding the extra pieces to the inside of the instrument's body. ---
# Sealing

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It is time to put the lid on this one. The idea is to add the label to the back and finally glue it in place to close the instrument. First, we add the label using some glue and let it dry until it is right to place. Then we work on the are we just expanded with the kerfing. We use the hand plane to remove some material to create an even surface. Now we sand a bit to make sure the whole are is ready. The next step is to cut the bars until they fit inside the kerfing and the lid stays in place without too much trouble. We start doing some tests before applying glue. We might need to adjust some of the height of the sides if we see there are uneven spots. When we have all set up, we can finally apply glue and get some heavy things to hold the back in place. Thus closing this instrument. And something that is missing in this explanation is having the bolt holding the instrument in place removed before closing this up. It is important or removing the instrument will be stuck and also be difficult to get off the mould. Thanks a lot for reading. We will see you on the next entry when the instrument gets off the mould. ---
https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bertrayo/Enyo4d2KNC9dwGuWMVoWdT9r7awN4qgRzhmXSAVcpnyFGVx2s9Vx9PFMvLJYQdCFZvJ.png |Entry||Name| |-|-|- |1||[The 19th Venezuelan Cuatro](https://peakd.com/hive-130560/@bertrayo/woodworking-wednesdays-or-the-19th-venezuelan-cuatro)| |2||[Heel and Bars](https://peakd.com/hive-130560/@bertrayo/woodworking-wednesdays-or-heel-and-bars-t6p0yi) |3||[Head Stock and Carve](https://peakd.com/hive-130560/@bertrayo/woodworking-wednesdays-or-head-stock-and-carve)| |4||[Fretboard](https://peakd.com/hive-130560/@bertrayo/woodworking-wednesdays-or-fretboard)| |5||[Back, Bars, Strum Guard](https://peakd.com/hive-130560/@bertrayo/woodworking-wednesdays-or-back-bars-strum-guard)| |6||[Assembly Starts!](https://peakd.com/hive-130560/@bertrayo/woodworking-wednesdays-or-assembly-starts)| https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bertrayo/Enyo4d2KNC9dwGuWMVoWdT9r7awN4qgRzhmXSAVcpnyFGVx2s9Vx9PFMvLJYQdCFZvJ.png - Photos 📷: Redmi Note 13 - Thumbnail 🖼️: Canva. - Editing 🎬:Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bertrayo/Enyo4d2KNC9dwGuWMVoWdT9r7awN4qgRzhmXSAVcpnyFGVx2s9Vx9PFMvLJYQdCFZvJ.png
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These gophers have been busy!! I could barely get the lid open on this ...