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Before I start my third guitar, I need to improve the way the binding came out on the one I'm just getting ready to start finishing. I have been googling to find ideas for a good quality wood binding finishing system. I saw a reference to a 'Nelson' brand, but that seems to no longer be offered. I'd like to ask for any pix, links, plans, or ideas for a fixture I can build that will help me turn my band sawn binding strips into dimensionally accurate binding strips. Appreciate any inputs. Thanks, Roy

I just use my 10-20 drum sander.
I also have made something like this which I use mainly for purfling. -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaqPjDByGS8

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Thanks! I don't have a drum sander, but I can sure make that little jig. Not sure why Google didn't show me things like that. It's appreciated.

MacRostie Binding Trimmer from Stew-Mac. It is pricey but it works amazingly. It is basically a router table with a very precise fence and hold down. You can dial in thickness and height within a couple of thousandths of an inch.

If it's coming off a bandsaw, just take it easy with the shavings, patience..

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Do you have a drill press?

You can double tape spacer blocks to the bottom of a hand plane and the plane the binding to an even thickness.
To hold the binding glue it to a board with a small dab of glue on one end of the binding and plane away from the glued end. Then cut the glued end off when done.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

OK, I made the Eric Schaeffer fixture, honestly haven't had time to try it yet. Almost have the #2 ready to start lacquer. Won't need the binding til Number 3, but I will try the fixture out soon.

Yes, I have a drill press. What I don't have and am considering is a jointer. Would like to try making a laminated neck.

Roy

OK, tried it, and like most things there's a learning curve for how best to use it. The only binding strips I had that were straight was some I cut from padauk, which is quite hard. I got the thickness closer than it was, but I'm not so proud of my technique, and then thought I'd try to shave down the height of the binding strip, which was a mistake. I broke the strip, and now I get to resharpen my blade due to hamfisted operator trying to force the part thru. Guess I'm learning, next time I'll try with a strip of mahogony, which I still need to cut. I don't want to try any I've already bent, at least not at my present skill level. Good news is I'm more curious to sneak up on learning the technique rather than upset at myself. It is clear that strips I cut on my bandsaw need further work before trying to comit them to a real build. Roy

I use a Timberwolf/Viking bandsaw blade (half inch 3 tpi) and they leave a finish that needs only final sanding. If I cut them much too thick, I run them through my SuperMax 19-38 drum sander. It's really accurate.

Brent

Resharpened my blade, and set it up so I could slide the strip thru a larger opening, shaving off thin layers I can check with my calipers. That seems to work well enough that I might try one of the bent pieces. Big improvement. Roy