Workshop...

Capping the Pinblock

The pinblock is a 1 1/2" thick slab of red or white oak into which the tuning pins will be driven. Its upper surface is capped with Sitka Spruce to match the look and color of the soundboard. The cap is made from 6 or 7 pieces of 1/8" thick Sitka Spruce that are edge glued together to form a cap that is slightly longer and wider than the pinblock. The photo shows the cap being glued to the top of the pinblock, which is longer than necessary at this stage. When the glue has set and the clamps removed, a router is used to trim the excess spruce from the edges of the pinblock. The pinblock is then cut to its proper length and the capping is finished.