I was thinking of the router with bearing. My main concern was whether 3mm (1/8") of timber is strong enough. It would only be around the controls.

Really the binding was the only step that was 'difficult'.

With the finishing I tried some 'unusual' things. Mainly the tinted shellac coats required lots of repetitions & so accumulating 'errors' with each but I had to learn somehow!! Basically dyeing the timber ,1 coat shellac(or alternative), & clear coating is straight forward. Only use filler if necessary. If you did solid colour that wouldl be more straight forward. The worst part is waiting for the clear coat to cure. LOL.

CYA.