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Picked up a 52 Epi Emperor Regent - the less expensive one -- natural finish with cutaway -- to fix up. The binding all around the body has shrunk and is loose so I want to replace it. It orginally was white but of course turned a bit yellow from the lacquer. I have the new white binding with binding glue from Luthier's Merchantile. Any tricks I should know?

I have scrapers to tae off any excess and plan to paint lacquer on the binding, a few coats, then work it in to a gloss with 600/1500 then maybe compound if needed( I have all the Stewmac stuff.) Also, what do I use to make it a bit yellow to match what it should look like at this age -- the old binding.

Thanks

Have you considered an ivoroid binding instead of white? That would tone down the brightness of the binding. You could also try tinting the finish. Definitely try it on some scrap first.

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Hi Dennis,
Sometimes when I build archtops with plastic (ABS) binding I tone the bindings using Mohawk brand "ultra-penetrating" wood stain which is similar or the same as Stew Macs Color tone stain mixed in nitro lacquer-sprayed on.
If done right it can give a real "vintage" aged look to the bindings.
I mix mostly yellow with a couple of drops of red and or brown.

Thanks

I started out with ivoroid but it wasa bit too yellow since the neck bindings are aged white.

on the stain, do you mix yours in nitro? Does the Stew mac come like that?

Dennis