: When doing a staple-less build, otherwise following along in Schade's book,
: what are the options for securing the first strip to the forms?

: 1) Screw it, then later drill the holes bigger to fit a flush-cut dowel
: (extra work)

: 2) Screw it, and live with the holes (eww)

: 3) Lots of C-clamps and L-shaped bits of wood ($$$)

: 4) Cove the sheer on both sides, then rest it on screws fitted with beads
: (just thought of it, but sounds fiddly)

: others ...?

I thought I had a good way to do this but it didn't work out. I held my original walnut strip in-place with screws and later re-bored the wholes to 3/8" diameter. Then using a plug cutter I cut 3/8" matching walnut plugs to fill the wholes. This should have worked but I had a cheap plug cutter and the edges of the walnut burned black which really showed up. With a good plug cutter this would have worked. I ended up with a home mixed putty that was OK but not perfect.

John