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I very rarely use plastic or celluloid binding but I have 2 customers that want ivoroid binding with a BWB purfling.
I have a stash of celluloid binding and plastic purfling I bought from Martin years ago and used to laminate with acetone regularly. For whatever reason I cannot get this stuff to stick! I have never had issues in the past. I tried thin super glue as well as thin acrylic cement and it will not adhere to the purfling. Not sure what this stuff is made of but it does not like glue!

I am leery using this stuff at all as it might come loose later.

Stumped!

I've used the Stew Mac "Bind All" glue successfully. Seems to stick to celluloid, wood and ABS without a problem. I've had problems with acetone and non-celluloid plastics. Still prefer wood bindings in general, but I've got a big stash of tortoise celluloid that looks great on banjo rims...

Dave

I typically use wood but once in a while someone wants that look. I am not worried about the celluloid adhering to the wood it is this purfling. I did some tests with various glues to wood also and nothing will stick to this stuff. I am pretty sure Martin has used Weld On cement for their guitars in the past but that won't stick either.
I will most likely just use fiber purfling and install prior to the binding.

T

In 40 years, that green and yellow tube of Duco Cement has never failed me when applying or repairing binding.

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

Unless yours is different, I thought all the Martin plastic, non-celluloid, binding & purfling was boltaron (or something like that).

I've used it for bindng & purfling using the older StewMac binding adhesive but I've also used it with CA - tape everything in place & use a pipette to carefully wick in just enough CA. The last build I did was Martin ivorioid & boltaron purfling using the CA method.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

nope not all martin binding is boltoron The ivroid and tortoise is celuloid . Duco works fine.
Martin had an issue a while back because the manufacturer of the glue changed a formula and didn't tell martin.
I have been using duco for 20 yrs no issues from me with it.
there was a time when people were saying tite bond will work trust me it doesn't

if you wipe the inside of the binding with 220 sand paper and acetone the duco really grabs in a hurry. The little roughing and acetone gets the duco to really adhere

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I've heard of people using 3M Scotch-Weld. I haven't used it myself though. Started with CIL Household cement and then Duco.