Here are some pics showing how I finished carving the back. After step routing, I move on to the angle grinder, which takes things to about 80% carved. Then out come the fingerplanes. With bigleaf maple, it is easiest to carve across the grain. I like to finish carving the inside of the top or back first, and then shape the back to the proper thickness and shape using the inside as a guide. The one picture shows me holding the back under a bright light with a straightedge across it. The shadow created by the ruler allows you to see the curve of the back. I use this technique to eliminate any bumps or hollows while carving. All told, it took me about three hours and twenty minutes to carve the back.
Brad
