advice for am absolute beginner

[uncle duke]

7 hours ago, Geigenbauer said:

I am only an amateur maker so I don't know how the experts would do this...

a dremel moto with a diamond coated bit - the bit has around 1/4" length of thin diamond embedded around the end.  It is the same diameter/thickness of the lining.  

Oh, wait a minute, you said experts.  Is expert better than professional?

[Davide Sora]

16 hours ago, Geigenbauer said:

I use an X-acto knife (with a straight edge blade) to cut the walls for the little "lining mortises" on the corner blocks. I then use a small chisel to cut down the back and along the bottom to remove the wood. Because the X-acto blades are so thin I have not had an issue with splitting of the blocks even when cutting all the way down to the bottom of the mortise. I am only an amateur maker so I don't know how the experts would do this...

I do it that way too.

[MikeC]

I have also used exacto knife to deepen the purfling channel but I'm thinking a curved blade might work better.  A curved blade might track better in the groove.  

[uncle duke]

On 11/29/2020 at 11:34 PM, I can't think of one said:

Also just advice of any kind would be very helpful.

this is advice from one of the better fiddle makers here.  it helps to think this way sometimes when removing unneeded wood.

Saw, knife, chisel, rasp, file, plane and lastly the scraper.  sandpaper usage optional.