Acoustic Guitar Construction

I show this in my construction log, but figured to put it here to for those looking.
This is a curly maple binding scheme with abalone purfling bordered by black lines.
My binding channel is .070", and the purfling channel is .140" for an overall width of .210". My binding is about .080" and will be scraped down to the sides. The black lines are .010" each and the abalone is .120", which I am sanding down to about .113 so it fits inbetween the black lines, but still snuggly.
The pictures show the teflon strips being glued in with the binding and the black line against the rosewood edge. When dried, the teflon is pulled out and the abalone is place in the channel along with the black line on the binding side. The picture shows the abalone in the channel before putting CA glue over the top. The abalone is inlayed about .005" lower than the spruce and bindings so I can scrape/sand down it without having to sand the surface much taking away the nice patterns that are already there.

Kevin

That looks great. I was curious why you did not glue both black lines in all at once using the Teflon strip to hold it in.

Good question John.
Actually, the two teflon strips are just about the exact width to fill the space with the one line. My bearing for the router bit is a .210" and the whole combination works if I leave out the one black line. That is the only reason, otherwise I'd love to glue it. At .010", I might be able to do it, but I don't want the bindings to be leaning back. As is, it is just about a perfect fit.

Kevin

Kevin
Beautiful job! I am to the binding stage on my third guitar as we speak. I don't think I'm ready for the abalone yet, being the rookie that I am, however, I would like to make my own pinstriping, binding and purfling with real wood not plastic. I've done some of this but it will always break when I try to fit it in the groove around sound hole. I then tried heating it but it came un-laminated! (then it broke). Do use fibers for your pinstriping or wood? Do you pre-bend ot using a blanket around a form? Do you use your own bindings, etc or buy from LMI?

Sorry about all of the stupid questions.......do I sound confused/frustrated?, Also, What method do you use for cutting the grooves for binding and purflings?

Gary

Hi Gary

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=566

Hi Gary,
So many questions!! :>)
The black lines are fiber. I usually use the pre-made black/white/black purflings that you can get from the supply houses, but when I want just a single black or white line, I use the fiber, which again I get from the supply house.
I have cut my own maple and walnut bindings, and I have bought them. I bend my own in my bending machine. I used a hand held router with a jig attached to rout the first few guitars I made, but last year I made a tower design routing machine, so the last 3 have been cut using that. It works good for me, but there are other options. Ken makes and sells a routing setup that you may want to consider. It always gets good reviews.
What I just did with the abalone was not all the difficult. The key was to see what I had to work with and come up with the size channels needed, and what the best way to install it all. Not my first guitar, so I already have an idea what to do. I've always worked with wood bindings.
Hope this all helps.

Kevin

This stuff is pretty cool

http://www.advancedshelltech.com/Produc ... rices.html

I know a few members have used it -- much more $$ however.