Instrument details: David Lai - Tenor mandola

Joining the Indian rosewood back

Photo added on 12/10/2016

Thicknessing the back

Photo added on 12/10/2016

Gluing a strengthening strip along the inside of the back join

Photo added on 12/10/2016

David cleans the routed channel ready for the rosette in his white spruce front

Photo added on 12/10/2016

Having installed the herringbone decoration, David planes it flush with the front

Photo added on 05/11/2016

Gluing the back braces

Photo added on 05/11/2016

Gluing the smaller braces first

Photo added on 05/11/2016

Shaping the braces

Photo added on 05/11/2016

David tidies the side to neck join

Photo added on 01/01/2017

Tapping in the frets

Photo added on 01/01/2017

Stringing up "in the white", ie before the finish is applied, allows fine adjustments to be made

Photo added on 01/01/2017

Filling the ends of the fret slots with shellac stick

Photo added on 01/01/2017

Applying the oil finish

Photo added on 01/01/2017

Working the sides

Photo added on 01/01/2017

David's finished mandola

Photo added on 01/01/2017