The f-holes and the bass bar

Here's a picture of the f-holes all cut out. Unfortunately, I didn't take any of the actual process, but here's how it went. I started out by 1/8" drilling holes in the center of each lobe, and in the middle of the f. Then I used a coping saw with the smallest blade I had to remove the wood along the center strip of the f. I then used a jeweler's saw to remove the wood from the lobes and wings. I cleaned it up with my knives, then files.
Once I cut the f-holes, I was ready to install the bass bar. After preparing my stock so that it was flat, straight, and of even thickness, I determined its final position, then set it on the top and traced along the edge with a pencil so that I'd have a rough guide for the underside of the arch.

I shaped the bar and set it into its proper position, then installed cleats all around it, tacking them down with hide glue. This way I can remove the bar over and over again as I'm fitting it to the inside of the top, and every time I put it back, it'll be in the same exact location.

Now here's why I'll need to remove it so often. I spread chalk along the inside of the top, where the bar goes.

Then I set the bar down, shift it forward and back ever-so-slightly ( I left a 1/2 mm gap at the end of the bar when I set down the lowest cleat). The chalk adheres to the underside of the bar and lets me know where I need to scrape off material. Don't let the pictures fool you. In person, the chalk can be very difficult to see on the light wood. But colored chalk stains the wood, so I just squint around and constantly shift the lighting.




Once the entire surface is chalk-covered, I know I'll have a perfect fit with no gaps. Then I glue in the bar and pop out the cleats. But I can't leave it like that!



I take the bar down to very specific heights along at five points along its length, creating smooth transitions between those points. Then I use fingerplanes, chisels, knives, and finally, sandpaper, to create a bullet-shaped cross-section.
Isn't it lovely? And for my next update, I get to close the box!