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I've built quite a few guitars and bound the bodies of quite a few. But I've never done F hole binding until now. I'm a bit hesitant because I'm having a hard time imagining how I'm going to scrape the color off of the binding surface. I can tape the inner edges of the binding of course but how do you go about scraping the front surface of the binding?

I use a razor blade, and a lot of care.

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

Yeah I use a razor blade for the outer binding and it's a piece of cake. I put a thick wrap of masking tape around the razor blade to create a stop and zip around the guitar. Works great. I'm just having a hard time visualizing how I'm going to use the same method for the f hole. The f hole is small with tight corners. I was considering cutting a razor blade to about 1/4 size so I can get in there.

I use an exato blade on F holes cause it is smaller. Like everything it takes skill, poise and confidence.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

A narrow chisel works for scraping the top of f-hole bindings. I use a variety of plane blade offcuts of for stuff like this, I like the extra rigidity and the fact that they can be sharpened. A few wraps of masking tap makes a nice "handle".

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Ditto on the razor blade. Before I put the back on I mask the insides of the f-holes as well as pickup cavities and holes for any electronics. If its plastic binding I shoot color coats over it and scrape back, I have tried to mask f-holes with the 1/4 inch pin strip masking tape with mixed results (auto finishing supply). When the finish is done I use a little hooked end tool (its whats called a "dental explorer") to break the masking tape loose from the inside of the guitar and fish it back out thru the f-hole.

I just finished an archtop with maple binding and I did bind the f-holes in wood. This isn't a very good picture but I'm pretty happy with it