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So I've made it through what is for me, the most unnerving thing in guitar building; binding!!!

I'm always apprehensive when it come to binding. I'm usually on my guard and ultra paranoid, even when I'm not in the shop!    That's why I try to get it over and done with as quickly, but safely, as possible...

So here's how it came out. Flamed koa with thin B/W/B laminations (From one of our great sponsors, Shane at Highmountain!) This binding is really gorgeous to look at with very deep flame and it has some of the nicest dark purplish streaks...



Pictures for brother Rod!





Looking inside the horn.



All done!



Thanks for looking.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Beautiful mitres!

That looks great, Al!

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Great job!! Looking really good!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Very nice job!

I'm just about to apply my first bindings ever and have the same
apprehension. Your finished work is very encouraging.

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Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

Really nice work!

Gorgeous!!! - what a nice geetar thats turning out to be!
Cheers
Charliewood

Lookin' GREAT Al!

Shane

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Canada

Super nice AL!
I love the trimless point! That is classy

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Your binding and mitreing looks perfect

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Alain, your paranoia has served you well!
Those tensions have really payed off with high dividends.
That's really nice.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

WOW!! Alain! I think you have binding down now! That end graft looks as good as it can get!

Ah...! How long did it take ya?

That figure on the binding jumps right out! Good Job!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Al, you're an ongoing inspiration my good friend!

Superb job once again dude, love that binding and your cutaway, flawless!

Thanks a lot guys!

I really wanted my miters to improve on this one. On my first two I used single white lines (1/32). Those were murder to get right.

These are about 1/16 and they were a bit easier to get just so...

I'm thinking that I'd like to try even bolder purfling on the next. Wider is probably easier to miter...

Billy, all told with the routing of the channels, cleaning them up... I glue in the top purfling seperatly too because I don't want any cracks between the purf and spruce... I know I know... that's the hard way of doing it... It must have taken me close to 10 hours, if not a bit more...   I had to make 3 pieces to fit the horn, top side before I was happy with the result... Alain Desforges39043.5501041667

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

My gosh, what a stunning body!!!

Very neat binding too.

[quote]It must have taken me close to 10 hours, if not a bit more...[/quote]

Not bad! It looks perfect! Compliments!!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Thanks Sam!

Here's another shot of the body... I must admit that I'm rather proud of the shape...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Nice work, Alain--hours well spent!

Looks great Al. I love the mitre on the cutaway! Super clean looking. Keep up the good work, I can't wait to see it finished.

Homeboy

Beautifil work Alain! I'd love to know how you got that seam on the front of the cutaway. From here it looks like you just magically bent the wood 120 degrees right around the cutaway!!!

Great work

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Alain, did you glue on the side purfling's at the same time as the binding, or did you do the side purfling separate, too? I'm not too far off from this step myself, using the fine b/w/b purfling. I'm curious as to the specific steps you took, especially the side where it's mitered at the tail block and then again at the neck/cutaway.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Thanks guys.

Joe, this is how I sort of went about it. After bending the side up to that point I just figured where I wanted my imaginary line to be, the line where the miters would meet.

I marked the angle on top of the rim and at the upper-most point (the very tip) I carried a straight line across the side just to show me where the edge would/should be.

I cut the side about an inch past the 'point' and I free handed the angle/mitre on my benchtop sander using the 4 inch belt on top. I was careful to keep the piece nice and perpendicular and I kept a watchfull eye on the line that runs across the side.

After a few adjustments I got the point to fit tightly.

When I was ready to glue I started by the tail block, then the neck block to the non cutaway side. I glued the horn to the neck block and I finished with the point. I used titebond on the blocks but I used HHG on the point. I had a lot of 'meat' in the joint, actually. I'm sure I had over 1/8. I wanted a glue that didn't need a tonne of clamping pressure. I just held it by hand for what seemed like an eternity and I taped it up with binding tape.

After that, I used the inside of the guitar as a sanding caul to fit a small wedge of mahogany in the tip. I just wrapped a piece of sandpaper inside the guitar holding it tight with one hand and I sanded away. The little wedge fit airtight and I glued that in there using HHG as well.

Jon, I glued the side purfs to the binding beforehand. Only the top purfling gets glued in on it's own. I know this is maybe a long way of doing it, but I find the end result, for me, is worth it. It just seems that no matter how hard I try to machine a perfect 1/16 little channel for the purfling I just can't get it to be, well... perfect.

After I glue on the perfling I just clean up the rest of the channel around it. I'm always careful not to dig in the purfling. That first black line is only like 0.02. I'll use a mix of chisel, Gramil and emery boards to get that cleaned up.

When I glue the rest of the binding on, it there's a crack to be had, at least it will be between the purfling and the binding and not towards the spruce.   A little drop of CA (after sealing the top with shellac) takes care of the little crack. The repair is invisible. Spruce slivers on the other hand...

As for the end-graft miters, I followed Cumpiano and Nathelson's advice in Tradition and Technology. PM me if you want further details. I also have a tonne of pics if anyones interested.

Sorry if I was a bit long winded there. Hope this helps.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Not long winded, thanks for the good detail. I'll reference the Cumpiano book, sometimes I forget about the good advice sitting on my bookshelf. I'd love to see any pics you want to send my way. I'm getting ready to do this, and I intend on being fussy and getting it right on, even if I have to route and redo. My email is jon at toolboy.net.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Al

That is super super nice my friend. I love the seemless cutaway and your miters around the rest are purfect as I can see.

You sould be very very proud. Very well done. And 10 hours, that's very reasonable I think for all that detailed work.



One day, I will want to play that one. It sure is going to be special.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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Thank you Alain,

I'm going to copy that and put it my 'How To' cutaway file if you don't mind.

Thanks again...Great work!!

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust