Fitting the tail graft

I saw a build somewhere on the internet where they put the tail graft in before attaching the top and back, and decided that was a smart move. This way the graft doesn't extend through the plates, and therefore I don't have to worry about how thick it is relative to the bindings.

This one is actually 1/42" walnut burl, vacuum bag veneered over a thicker piece of not-so-impressive curly walnut that I'd originally planned to use. So after cutting the graft pocket, I just turned it upside down and ran it through the drum sander till was .010" thicker than the pocket. Just perfect for sanding flush with the sides: