Official Luthiers Forum!

Do you cut the purfling rebate first or the binding rebate?? Why?

I cut the binding ledge first because it's a deeper cut and I feel it is more likely to leave a less perfect edge on the top. In practice I've not really noticed any difference in the edges on the binding or purfling ledges. I expect it depends on how sharp your bits are; mine are sharp.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I think it should depend, at least in part, on how your router registers against the side for the across-the-plate depth of cut. Some setups have a bearing that registers against the part of the side that is right under the cut. If that is the setup you have, then you should cut the purfling ledge first. If you cut the binding ledge first, that ledge might interfere with where the bearing would normally ride.

If your setup registers against the side much lower than what I describe above, then I think it is up to personal preference.

A good point Don.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Yes, what Don said, but other than that’s I don’t think it matters, depending on which bit is sharpest.

I excess route with a .060x .200 cut, then fare the sides, then cut whatever binding channel, then cut the purfling channels. I use the carriage and tower system, and I have a row of four routers, one for excess, main binding, top purfling, and back purfling. All you ever need to do is swap out the bearings, and make sure you’re using the right one. It’s a bit of an expensive upfront cost with four routers and four cutters, but, since each cutter barely gets used, they last a very long time. The dullest one is always the excess cutter as it does the bulk of the work, but if it’s channels are fuzzy it’s ok, as they’ll be touched up again with the binding and purfling cuts.

I like (love) this system as you only have to make test cuts for depth once, when you put in a new cutter.

As a side note you can buy tall purflings so you only have to make one cut


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I've always cut the purfling ledge first for the same reason Don mentioned above. It's never presented any problem.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter