Closing the box

With the top braced and the sides notched to receive the brace ends, I am ready to close the box. I used some Titebond glue and clamped the box in the go-bar deck. I have a caul made of hardboard shaped to fit the top that protects the soft spruce from the ends of the fiberglass rods.

I left it clamped up for about four hours. When I got back to it, I removed the spreader from the inside, then removed the form. I'll let it dry overnight in the house (out of the humidity) and trim the overhang tomorrow.