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Kathy taught me how to use a shooting board and join tops and backs.

The boards have been prepared for joining, so...

This is a redwood top.

Using the nail method...

This is a set of Peruvian Walnut

Using the fancier jig...

I quit using jigs to join the top and back years ago. You don't really need any tools at all! See http://www.wellsguitars.com/Articles/Jo ... oining.php for a complete explanation!

Sylvan,
Thanks for the link. I wondered if the tape method would work. In a previous career I worked with cabinet makers who made perfect joints using nothing but tape, so I have seen this work in other applications.

I did the joining this way a few times, then just started using a board with 3 blocks attached with screws that I slip wedges between them and the edge of one back half. The other half is up against a straight maple board. Set it up, put glue on the edges, lay them in place, tap the wedges in to apply pressure, clamp a board down over the seam. Good to go, no fuss, no muss and I don't have a board with nails sticking up to deal with.

I used a jig employing rubber bands to do joining until I attended the Blues Creek class. I've switched over to the tape method John uses. The trouble locating the glue line on the tops that week convinced me this method was ok.

Kathy was demonstrating a conventional shooting board where the pieces are placed horizontally, and another style where the pieces are held vertically.