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Any suggestions? I want to cut a purfling channel on my next project, however I don't do binding, I have nothing against it, I just like natural binding a lot more. Fillippo and Chris are awesome at wood bindings, however I like doing natural maple binding like on PRS guitars, it's easy and looks nice.
Anyway, I want to cut a purfling channel, any ideas on a good tool to do this with without since I wont be cutting a binding channel and therefore a purfling channel?

Violin purfling cutter and groove cleaner?

Violin makers use a purfling tool, as I understand.
You are basically cutting a narrow and shallow groove around the edge of the instrument.

I also think purfling looks good on the edges of fretboards, not just bodies.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Yeah I found the ibex purfling cutter after this, I was just hoping for something a little easier and less tedious, but oh well, you want the result you have to do the work.

That's a way that I certainly never thought of, very clever. Thanks for the suggestion!

I use this tool http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bindings,_t ... Guide.html http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bindings,_trim/Tools_for_Binding/Purfling_Soundhole_Router_Guide.html
I set it up on a cutoff from wood the same thickness as my body and rout the channel.

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Ken

.....a number of ways to do it, beyond handcutting like a violin. Ted Megas uses a floating router, like the LMI binding rig. He draws numerous lines towards the center... all tangent to the edge... and moves the body through the cutter always keeping the relevant line square to the machine (so the purfling to edge gap remains constant). I've used a homemade dremel jig.

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Dave
Milton, ON

This looks like it could be used to route a purfling in a carved top guitar as well.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Yes, but usually it is for plates before they are on the ribs. I use it for double bass plates. The tool is designed to sit on a flat benchtop and slide around the plate cutting the channel. You need to stay perpendicular to the edge but that is easy by eye.

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Ken

Chris
Thats a really sexy purfling effect, especially against the spalted top! You have a quality that cant be taught - taste..
also Your a lucky guy to have had someone like ToddStock assisting you in your novice stages - I wish I had a luthier mentor nearby but alas live to far in the boonies..
Man, I checked out your site a couple weeks ago and I have to say your really flying now!
P.S. Todd is a great guy- he helped me out when I was starting out a few years back - he offered up a Delta belt/disk sander on the forum... I PMed him and said Id love it and would prefer to pay postage seeing as we lived so far away from one another... he sent it and wouldnt hear of me paying postage either - even though I really wanted too..
I still use that thing for certain thickness sanding tasks and such... Thanks Todd..
Again great work Chris
Cheers
Charlie