Online Apprentice-Make and Attach the Tail Block

Last Update: 5/31/04

Online Apprentice-
Make and Attach the Tail Block.

In this lesson we will make and attach the tail block.

Make sure you have read this lesson all the way through before beginning the lesson. A word of advice is to practice on scrap.

	Cut out the tail block from a piece of Spanish cedar,mahogany or spruce. Use a sanding block and hand plane to fine tune the shape. Check to make sure that the surface that meets the sides is flat and matches the curve of the plantilla. Check the edge that meets the soundboard as well and make sure the block is not tilted when clamped to the soundboard.
	Use a couple of clamps and glue the block to the soundboard. Use one of the clamps to keep it square by clamping to one of the workboard blocks. Use a piece of wax paper between the soundboard, the workboard and the workboard block.
	After the glue has dried, and prior to removing the clamp that is holding the tail block to the workboard block, attach a piece of scrap wood with some nails to the heel and tail blocks. This will keep the tail block ridgid and prevent it from snapping of the soundboard during construction.

Online Apprentice Home page.