The
term "the skin" applies to the rounded back part of the
body. It is made like the carvel planking of a boat.
First,
divide both sides of frame E into eight sections, and do the same
to frame A at the small end of the body, and this will give you the
width of the 16 tapered laths used for making the skin of the harp.
Cut out your laths a little bit wider in order to account for the
bevels; start the "planking" at the bottom, that is to say,
over rails G.
Coat
the rails with glue, and nail the laths in position with panel pins,
one panel pin every 30mm. Be careful about the small ends of the laths:
don't split them when driving the nails in!
All
laths are glued on the edges, and nailed and glued to the frames.
When the glue is dry, the skin can be smoothed with a disc sander
first, then by hand. If you find it difficult to obtain a good joint
between the wide ends of the laths and frame E, flatten the section
on frame E with a file before glueing. Make sure the skin surface
is nice and smooth all over because it will be covered with veneer
later, and a good surface is essential for the veneer to adhere evenly
to its base.
