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Hi everyone, I'm about to start a new build which will include my first cutaway(Florentine). I hope this is not too much of a silly question(s), but is it better to cut the side before bending, or bend the side as a normal non-cutaway side and then cut off the cutaway section and invert it to form the cutaway?.
I hope this makes sense and I'm well aware of the issues matching grain etc.
Or, would you bend the side as far as the cut off point so as to get the slight bend before the cut off, then cut and bend the cutaway separately thus keeping matching grain?
I'm not too sure how important matching the grain is, particularly on figured or quilted woods where are few straight grain lines to follow anyway.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Mike

Cut first, then bend. Leave a little extra to cut off after bending, because it's difficult to bend right up to the end of a piece of wood.

I create the miter by sanding. Freehand the cutaway piece, and put a stack of neck blanks or whatever under the tail end of the side piece to tilt it up to the correct angle. Then glue the corner block to the cutaway piece, and use a tape hinge to glue that to the side. Although there's no need for a miter if you plan to have binding down the tip edge.

Thanks Dennis, "because it's difficult to bend right up to the end of a piece of wood.". That's exactly why I was asking the question. Many thanks for your input. especially the taped hinge part.
Cheers Mike.

What Dennis said. Cut it an inch (or so) longer to give yourself a buffer.

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