Ole Bull - Purfling the Back Plate

I spent New Years eve day installing the purfling the back plate on my Ole Bull copy. Using a single blade purfling marker, I marked a line 5mm in from the edge, in accordance with the system that I described in previous posts. Then, I made another pass with the purfling marker set differently to mark the inside line and account for the varying widths of the purfling on the original instrument. Once both lines were marked, I used a knife to cut the groove 2mm deep for the purfling:

With the groove cut, I bent the purfling and fit the corner mitres. Although the width of the groove varies from 1.2-1.6mm, the purfling will fill it -- I am using larger purfing compressed in a pasta roller, and the wetness and heat of the glue will cause it to swell out and fill the groove -- whatever width it may be at a particular point.

Once all the purfling was dry fit, I used a syringe filled with glue and a hammer to glue the purfling into the groove. Once the glue was dry, I trimmed off the excess purfling with a gouge:

Here is my my project next to a photo of the original:

Tomorrow, I plan to install the purfling on the top plate and will post an update. Then, I will be ready to trim the plates to the final word outline and finish the arching.

Happy New Year!!!