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i have a solid (electric guitar) mahogony body i have just finished shaping and routing. i want to put binding on both sides front and back. i have chanelled the top but after doing so the bearing has left a heavy mark round the body.took a while to sand out also. before i do the back of guitar, does anyone have a tip on how to avoid this? im using a normal router and a 1/4 inch flush bit with a smaller bearing, so my bit cuts in .40 for my .60 binding.Any tips much appreciated.i dont mind sanding but its about an hour an a half wasted sanding the marks out twice ..jas

Is the mark that you are seeing a crease? If so it is caused by the bearing not riding flat against the side because the top of the guitar is domed and the router base is flat. This causes the router to tilt back a tad.

If this sounds like your situation you can double stick tape a donut/wedge that you make from scratch onto the bottom of the router base, make a mark on it on the thinnest side, and then route the channels always keeping the mark toward the center of the guitar. This keeps the router straight up and down, prevents the bearing edge from being the only part of the bearing that contacts the guitar side and the crease disappears.

The size of your wedge will depend on the amount of dome on your guitar top and back.

It also helps to place a piece of masking tape over the bearing and it's edges. Remember too that when you use the tape it will lessen the depth of the cut by the tape's thickness.

Here is a picture of the donut/wedge that I am speaking of:

Also check that bearing to make sure it isn't stiff and hard to turn.

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Brad Tucker

excellent, thanks for that,top tips guys, very much appreciated, that wedge/donut is a fantastic method for domed front/back,not that i knew another method, so much to learn . the bearing mark is definatley a ride mark so i will try the tape method..cheers jas

i did check that before i done the channel...thanks 4 advice...v.much jas

Try a light touch like Todd said. I have seen it happen with too much pressure. Even on rosewood. You might try on some scrap if you have it, just to see if that is the prob.

hope this helps

oops dint see ya last post....gladya gottit!

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Brad Tucker

This happens all the time for me. I just put 2 layers of blue tape on the sides before choosing the bearing and measuring the depth of the cut. The bearing marks up the tape, and then I just peel off and I'm good to go!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I have several small routers, some cheapies, one good one. The cheapies are not balanced as carefully and they vibrate leaving a bearing mark in the side. The good one runs smoothly and leaves no marks using the same bit. Just pay attention while its in your hand before you start, you'll feel the vibes. Good Luck.............. Mikey

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

Unless you really got into it, it should not be but a couple thousands deep. After you bind the body you will need to scrape back the binding back flush to the body with a sharp cabinet scraper. Right? I would think on an electric it would be easily, almost automatic to remove the bearing rub at the same time you scrape your binding flush.

Tape works well but the most important thing to watch for is the bearing turning freely on the shaft. It's not supposed to be rotating with the bit. They need a little lube job every so often.

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Bob--



What do you use for this? WD-40, teflon dry lube?

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC