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What do ya'll think about the new binding jig from stewart macdonanld? Has anybody bought one yet? I've been needing a quicker more accurate way to cut binding channels. I'm thinking about ordering it. I'm just wondering if anyone has reviewed it yet. It looks like it has a pretty fair price. Certainly less than the LMI setup.

Looks like a well made bit of kit to me.
Yet another bit of stewmac hardware I'm sure you could make yourself though

Simple and elegant design. Functionally the same as the Ribbeke (LMI) model.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

My only fear with that is the lack of foot print at the base. That looks to me like it could easily rock back and forth when cutting the channels. I would want to add two more mounting brackets to the base for sure. Make that puppy really ridgid.

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[QUOTE=Rod True] My only fear with that is the lack of foot print at the base. That looks to me like it could easily rock back and forth when cutting the channels. I would want to add two more mounting brackets to the base for sure. Make that puppy really rigid.[/QUOTE] I was thinking the same thing. It might have a large plate on the bottom that would help a lot.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I agree guys,looks like it could use a little more support. It just seems like a smaller version of the Ribbecki jig.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I had not seen this. I built something similar recently for my first guitar. It looks like we both have the 80/20 industrial tinker toy catalog. After seeing theirs, mine feels a bit overbuilt ... with it's wide base and full support, it does not rock or go out of alignment. Here's mine in action:

 

-PeterO

The Stew-Mac jig costs $215.00 conmpared to the LMI at $250.00
The LMI also includes a video instruction which makes the dollar difference too small to decide by price alone IMHO.
Ray

I like the one designed by Harry Fleischman and that other guy...what's his name...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

[QUOTE=Don Williams] I like the one designed by Harry Fleischman and that other guy...what's his name...[/QUOTE]

Me too, Don...building your jig is one of the diversion projects I'm starting during my 3 month sabbatical from guitar building.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] [QUOTE=Don Williams] I like the one designed by Harry Fleischman and that other guy...what's his name...[/QUOTE]

Me too, Don...building your jig is one of the diversion projects I'm starting during my 3 month sabbatical from guitar building. [/QUOTE]

Awe come on now. Your not going to "retire" like Don has done are you now . I think Don started on a sabbatical too.

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

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Yes, I AM retired from building guitars. Honest! I haven't built a guitar in many months...actually, over a year and a half.

That said, my current project is tearing down a couple walls I built in my shop area a few years ago, and dealing with the consequencial rewiring etc.
I've discovered that the way I had things was not in my best interest for guitar building or anything else. I'm creating more room for storage and also for moving tools around, since my space is very narrow.
I'm having to throw out all kinds of stuff that I've put aside "just in case I need it someday". But I have to make room for wood to sell and wood that needs to be cut. I also have a few guitars to build for a special project, and possibly a uke. But all this is just to keep me busy and out of trouble in my retirement from building.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

That's sort of sad news Don, your guitars were really nice from what I remember.

At least you got all that nice wood to keep you company, and like you said, a couple of special projects.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

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

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] They don't say much about it on the site. It looks like a good way to go though and really the same concept as the LMI jig.

[/QUOTE]

I, too, use the LMI style and find it works well, is very stable and uses a Porter Cable router with plenty of power. I did add one "extra"...a counterbalance to help offset the entire weight of the router/carriage assembly...sort of approaching neutral bouyancy.

Can't make out the router in the photo, but it appears to be a small unit...maybe some sort of "dremel" type...which IMHO would be underpowered. Also, as mentioned, the support footprint could stand some more beef to avoid "wobble" and the base could be wider for extra area to support the carriage unit at it's widest arc.

It is a nice looking rig and obviously well made. Maybe just a few fine tuning needs.

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Hank Mauel

I think it is a a laminate edge trimmer of some sort Hank, plenty of power for the job.

Alan D.

thats looks like a Makita .. about the same as a PC 7310, 1/4 HP or so.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

This rig looks functionally the same as the homemade one shown on John Mayes binding video. I think the hardware and materials total less than $25. I've seen detailed building plans for sale somewhere, maybe eBay. I think I remember that Mayes has a trick method of mounting the guitar body in the sled using vacuum, and adjusting the body for levelness when switching from top to back. Maybe John will jump in if he's not busy moving to his new job and home.
I'm surprised that there aren't more vendors offering something like this, looks easy enough to make. Thinking about it, perhaps that's the very reason.

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

The last time I checked the "Blues Creek" website, they offered a similar model priced at $200.00 (less router)
They are also an OLF sponsor - I believe.

Ray

In addition to the small base it looks like derlin bearings to hold the router base.  How would these hold up for long term use???

Kirby 

Yes, the router is a Makita. Unusaul to see a router model available in the UK also available in the states. The machine is rated at 450 watts.

That's a lot of power. I have a cheap pawnshop makita laminate trimmer that might work but it looks underpowered to me. My other one is a Bosch, which I'm not thrilled with. It's definitely time for me to consider this kind of set up for bindings. Looks like you just set your guitar in that plywood base, with edges equidistant from it, and slide it around your stationary adjustable height router tower.
The rabbet guide attachment for my Bosch just about brought me to tears when it slipped during use on my latest guitar and I finally had to resort to using my monster Porter Cable 1/2 inch plunge router, along with some creative inlay artistry. I'm still a beginner and sometimes have to just use what I have. The guide for your Makita looks much better than Bosch's. Thanks for the thread.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

       Mine is an older Makita still has plenty of power
    
Mark

[QUOTE=Rod True] That's sort of sad news Don, your guitars were really nice from what I remember.

At least you got all that nice wood to keep you company, and like you said, a couple of special projects.[/QUOTE]

Rod, yes - lots of special projects. Many potential guitars to build as part of one of those projects.

I never said anything about never coming out of retirement, now did I?

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."