Uke build 2.0 - side linings

This session is the installation of the side linings. Were this a larger instrument, these would be kerfing (kerfed lining), but these are just plain.

I picked up this mini hack saw and miter box at the hardware store, and it came in quite handy for this step.


I cut the linings with the hack saw to be a little longer than I needed, then used a file to fine tune. The teeth on the hack saw were pretty aggressive, so I wanted to finish the end of the lining with something a little finer.

The uke is designed with a contoured back. The depth of the sides at the tail block is a little deeper than that at the neck. To accommodate the contour the linings angle down the side as the go from tail to neck. You just line them up with the neck and tail blocks. I left them up slightly higher than the neck and tail blocks. When I get to sanding the sides to prep for the back to be installed, I want to make sure I'm getting a good contact surface on the linings. I figured putting them 0.5mm closer to the back than spec would be a good way to ensure this. A little more to sand away, but shouldn't be a problem.

When filing the ends of the back linings, I put a bit of an angle here to match how the linings line up with the neck and tail blocks. The miter box had a groove in the outside that helped support the linings when filing them down to size.


The following shows a shot of one of the linings as I got it cut down enough to fit in the uke.


Once the linings are the correct length, they are attached with a little glue and a lot of clothespins.


After time to dry (I left it overnight), the process is repeated for the top linings. The only difference there is that the linings sit flush to the edge of the sides... No contour to worry about.

-A