Stewart Macdonald Tenor Ukulele Kit part 2

Before gluing the neck block, the instructions say to make a clamping caul for the neck block. The neck block has a little radius on it, I think its about 10". There are no instructions on how to make the clamping caul, but one can easily be made by using the neck block as a sanding block. I used 80-grit just to rough out the curve. I don't think the caul needs to be smooth, just curved enough to the shape of the neck block.

Fitting the neck block proved to be a challenge even with a couple of dry run practices. The image in the instructions show just one clamp holding the neck block in place. I had a hard time trying to close the ends together and position the neck block. To help me I used another clamp to hold the sides in at the waist to bring the side ends together a bit. I also used a spare piece of wood between the clamp and the neck block to spread out the clamping pressure.

After many practice runs, it was time for the glue up. The glue made the process almost a whole new ball game. The block didn't move as freely as it did in the dry run. I had to loosen/tighten up the clamp several times to get the block in the right place. The instructions say to wait 3 hours for the glue to dry, but I would wait a day. Best not to rush and let the glue fully dry.

After a day passed I removed the clamps. I noticed that a bit of the wax paper got pinched. This shouldn't be of any concern, I hope. Looks like it can be easily scraped out since its just a super tiny sliver.

The tail block was much easier to place. Just fit the tail block and clamp, no end pieces to bring together. I again used a spare block between the tail block and the clamp. Again, it is best to just wait a day for the glue to dry.

Next up will be gluing the linings when I have the chance. Hopefully my little girls sleep early so I can put in the linings.

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