Shaping the contour

My piccolos have an arched back, but only arched not domed. I marked the rough outline on the inside and ran (more like wiggled) it through the bandsaw.

Gotta love the mini bandsaw - I took it out from under the bench but had to clear a space for it. So I had it in one hand while I cleared the bench with the other. Big machines are great, but miniatures come in second, before mid sized. 

Then the body is sanded on my very fugly sanding jig. It's made from slotted mdf and scraps, but it still works. 

Some kerfed basswood lining strips are pre-bent to fit the sides. Notice that I stopped using end blocks a few piccolos ago. 

You can also see some of the friday night varnish I'll put on the inside, to get a glossy finish of the week. 

Then it's paper clip time, and the whole thing can rest until tomorrow. Now I'll watch a documentary about The Ramones, I think. And use that varnish. 

Neck at break neck speed

Yesterday I sharpened a bunch of tools on my Japanese water stones. Then I carved the neck for the piccolo (which now has the one piece rim attached to the soundboard).

Shaping braces on piccolo top

My very best kept secret has to be the fact that I like planes. I like all sorts of planes, but small planes are even more special. Here you can see my smallest Ibex plane on the left, with a curved sole. In the middle is a plane from Veritas, also curved in both directions and with an adjustable handle. And to the right is the miniature shoulder plane, also from Veritas. 

The piccolo is destined for Australia and my mate Chris. It feels like a relief to make one of these after the uneducated guesswork that surrounded the guitar-thing.