A new OM starting

[Kevin in California]

All braces now glued down.
I started some carving today

[Kevin in California]

I've made a bunch of progress in the past week or so.

Carved the braces, attached the top, routed it flush.

Installed a curly Koa endwedge.
Inlayed my logo on an ebony headplate.

And today, I bent the curly maple binding and glued plastic BW purfling to one piece.

[bftobin]

Kevin, I too really like Spanish Cedar for necks (and linings). One thing I learned from Sergei De Jonge when I was at his school/shop was, if you want a thin neck like you can get with Mahogany, you need a little carbon fiber reinforcement in the neck besides the trussrod. Not a lot, but some. Otherwise you should leave the neck a few mm.s thicker. Check out Sergei's website, he's an internationally known luthier and has trained hundreds more at his school.

Brent

[Kevin in California]

Thanks Brent
So far I haven't had a Spanish cedar neck on a steel string have a problem. I've been using aluminum channel truss rods.
The one I'm building now is using a Stewmac rod. I guess will see if it's stiff enough.

[Kevin in California]

Fret board made. Bound with cut offs of the same blank and b/w plastic purfling glued in there.

Then today I cut the binging/purfling channels. That went well. I'll be gluing in the scheme over the next couple of days.

[Kevin in California]

The binding and purfling is in. I didn't have to alter the channels at all after the routing. I got a nice even cut.

I glued in the plastic purfling first using special glue for bonding plastic to wood(or plastic to plastic).
Once that was dry I scraped away any excess dry glue from squeeze out. Then I taped in the binding, fitting the joints at the butt end first and then the neck end. When it was all taped in tight I wicked in CA between the tape, top and sides. Once dry I pulled the tape and the wicked in more CA where the tape had been.
Low pressure process.

I just finished scraping it all flush. I installed the binding about .010" proud on top and sides so there was a bit os craving to do. I started out with .085" binding so it's now about .075" and I think looks just right. Combination binding and side purfling is .250" tall.

Now I'll focus on the neck for awhile.

[Will Reyer]

Exquisite bindings n purflings!

I drool every time I see photos of your shop or Parchem's. Like your fixture for routing the rabbets.