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Hi everyone,
I've recently run into an unexpected problem trying to match tail graft purfling (bwb or wbw) with the binding purfling (bwb or wbw) that StewMac sells already installed on some of their bindings.
It seems that SM doesn't sell the bwb or wbw purflings in the size that matches their own bindings with the bwb or wbw purflings. (Go figure)
So I guess my only choice is to make my own custom size purfling.

Here's the question:
Can anyone tell me or point me to some information that tells me how to make my own custom purfling?
Thanks,
Bill

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Formerly know as Mandodiddle.

"So I guess my only choice is to make my own custom size purfling."

Well, not necessarily. If you have some binding with purflings attached you could separate
the perfs from a section to get enough to do your tail graft and Bob's your uncle.

Just yesterday I de-laminated some BWB purfling by putting it in hot water and then slipping a razor blade between the strips. I just wanted to add a single black line around the inside and outside of a store bought rosette. They had a white line as an outside edge which sometimes shows a glue line when inlaid in light colored spruce.
I have also separated purflings "dry" using a single edge razor blade.

Bill, there are two main operations to making your own purfling - thicknessing the veneer, and laminating.

Often you can find the size of veneer you need pre-made. If not, and you have a thickness sander, it is easy to thickness a bit of veneer just to where you need it. A go-bar deck works well for applying even pressure along a long run of purfling for lamination.

Can you tell us what size and color purfling you’re after? Maybe with a pic?

Do you have a drum sander?

Buy some veneers, thickness to what's needed, and glue together. Here's what I use.

For clamping, some aluminum angle.


The plane iron was ground to make a scraper, but for small jobs, a regular scraper works pretty well.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Ok, here are the dimensions best I can tell:

Overall thickness = 0.050"

Purfling wbw = 0.010" x 0.030" x 0.010".

These are strange dimensions and I have yet to find anything premade. Even when looking at veneers I can't seem to find a 0.010" white fiber sheet.

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Formerly know as Mandodiddle.

Ken and Clay,

I did try delaminating the wbw from one of the ebony bindings. Finally, with a heat gun and a few unintelligible mumbles I got most of the wbw off. Took forever to get the remaining glue and binding off the separated wbw. It looks sort of ok, but the 0.010" white that was next to the binding looks thinner than the other white side, not by much, but when you only start with 0.010" to begin with 0.002"- 0.003" makes a visible difference. So I guess what I am saying is that it seems like too much trouble for a marginal result in my hands. I can't imagine doing this for the next 15 builds.
Still waiting for the miracle solution.

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Formerly know as Mandodiddle.

Bill, Stew MAC sells a set of violin purflings that are a match for the bwb purflings on their natural wood bindings. Check them out, they are listed in the binding and purfling section of their online catalogue.
That is, if you don’t feel like making them. If you need wbw you may be stuck making them yourself.
Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Here is a link to some bwb purfs I bought off eBay. They delaminate in hot water. They are probably (haven't measured) .010b .030w. 010b - opposite of what you need.
What you could do is delaminate the binding and build it back up using the individual pieces (wbbbw) and sand or scrape the white to thickness. For an entire strip of purfling it might be a nightmare, but for some end graft pieces it might be doable.
How close does the white fiber look like wood (maple or holly) ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/100pcs-wood-vi ... 1438.l2649

If it helps, RC sells the fiber sheets that you can laminate together to make your own. Since the black is .030 you could stack a .020 and .010 sheet and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. I used vacuum recently to make some purfling like this, but you could certainly just clamp it between two flat boards covered in something like packing tape.


http://rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store/fiberveneer-c-12/

Brad


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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If you are going to do this for the "next 15 builds, you might consider getting some purfling made by Gurian Instruments in Seattle. Find them on the web. They will make anything you want, in any size or color. You need to order minimum runs, but they are great to deal with. Sometimes they may even have what you want already made in their sale items. Good luck. Stay safe.-Bob

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso