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Tired making new spreaders specifically for every mold I make, so first attempt/prototype at a set of universal spreaders for letting freshly bent sides settle in the mould and gluing on the linings.
May yet have to shorten the tubes/lengthen the threaded rods for the upper bout and waist for anything smaller than an 00.
I already have one for fitting top and back to sides to make it easier to remove after gluing.
This is the first side for a student's SJ Hybrid.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Nice idea. I might have to try that one

Nice design. I like the padding on the blocks.
I have been using turnbuckles for the ones that need to come out through the soundhole. For the ones that come out before the box is closed up I have been using the cheap HF plastic bodied F clamps turned around as spreaders. They aren't terribly strong but work fine to hold the sides against the mold.