I have removed all of the clothespins from the top binding here and they are ready to be trimmed for the top and top bracing pieces.

Here is a detail of the top binding feet near the neck block.

Here I have the rim assembly set down on the top plate to trim off the binding feet that are next to the top bracing end. These feet are trimmed away so that the top will fit flush with the rim.

Here is a detail of some binding feet that have been trimmed away above the top braces.

To make sure that the top braces do not separate from the top plate after assembly, additional binding feet are glued onto the sides. These feet go into the gaps created when I trimmed off the first feet that were in the way.

I had to add additional binding feet on both sides of the rim assembly.

This is pretty much the were enough parts assembled to have something that starts to look like a real guitar. Here I am just doing a little dry fitting of the top plate onto the rim assemble to see how I am doing.

Most of the books call for the attachment of either cloth tape or small wooden strips on the inside of the rim assemble. These are to keep the sides from developing stress cracks after the final assembly. I am using some small, popsicle-like strips that I cut on my new band saw.

Yeah, that's right. A NEW band saw. while I was still making the various jigs and sanding blocks that I need may old Black & Decker band saw gave up the ghost. It was a very nice saw---10" benchtop type with a variable-speed DC motor. It had originally belonged to my Dad and gave many years of good service.