My first classical guitar

[Kevin in California]

All trimmed up and out of the mold.

[Kevin in California]

Work has been slowed down, but is picking up again. I have the red/black side purflings attached to the curly maple bindings and all scraped down flush. Next step is to make the purfling cutter so I can score the top before I touch it with a router. Perhaps before the coming weekend is over I'll be gluing the bindings on. (hope, hope, hope).

[Kevin in California]

No bindings on. All I got done is got the sides sanded level ready for the bindings. Made a blade for the purfling cutter and working on that. It will be rudimentary, but should do the job intended. I won't touch that redwood top with a router bit until there are purfling lines cut into it first.

[John Parchem]

No bindings on. All I got done is got the sides sanded level ready for the bindings. Made a blade for the purfling cutter and working on that. It will be rudimentary, but should do the job intended. I won't touch that redwood top with a router bit until there are purfling lines cut into it first.

Are you going to make a slot to install the purfings as opposed to a ledge? Or are you just cutting the purfing inside line and then routing to the cut line?

[Kevin in California]

Yes John, I'm just going to use the cutter to cut the inside line, then rout up to it. I'll still use the router and bearings to cut a stepped purfling and binding channel.
I won't worry about pre-cutting on the back, Indian rosewood, but that redwood top is very splintery, and I don't want to take a chance with it.

[Herman]

I'm very curious about your routing the top, 'cause my second guitar coming will have a redwood top. Very splintery indeed.
herman

[Kevin in California]

I got a purfling cutter made. Then I glued up a piece of MDF and redwood, a cut off of the top I'm using. I put a thin coat of shellac around the perimeter set the cutter to do a .150" wide cut, the same that my bearing will do. The cutter works great and cut a .060" deep score on multiple passes, making a clean cut through the top fibers. Then I routed for the binding and purfling and glued in some purfling and the binding, scraped it down to see how it will look. The fit for this scheme was good. See the pics. Red/black on the sides and red/black/red on the top. I'll also use this on the back I think. So next I do it on the top for reals.