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I'm sure I am not the first one to think of this. I didn't want to take a chance cutting into the back while routing the binding channels so I made this temporary block and sanded it perfectly flush - it is held in by the neck bolt by virtue of a helicoil inserted into the block. Double sided tape would do just as well to hold it in place while routing. I'll rout and then remove it. Cheers!

A suggestion. If your block is pre-cut for the mortise, don't cut away the sides until the binding, purfling has been installed. That way you don't have to worry about making a piece, etc. Been there, done that!

Yep - making the block was precisely because I cut the wood away - what is is they say about necessity being the mother of invention? To quote someone on the forum, "It's not a mistake unless you can't fix it!" Thanks for the reply and have a good one.

I don't open the mortise until after binding. I have been told some folks don't open until after finishing and buff out, thus helping to prevent the opening from catching during buffing.
Tom