Binding Question

[sscovill]

I have a question about bindings. I've seen them on stewmac.com as well as all the router accessories.

My question is...is the binding a straight piece that you have to form to fit the binding channel, or is it already preformed?

Thanks guys,

Steve

[www]

I've never used binding (yet), but I know it is straight and you have to conform it to your body, or neck. That's where a lot of big rubber bands come in handy.

Do a search and you should find much more info.

[sscovill]

Isn't it a bit difficult to bend the binding uniformly? Especially if you're using a white/black/white combination?

[johnsilver]

Stewmac has a good binding tutorial of their own that will answer a lot of your questions.

Stewmac binding

I just used this info and a little binding experience (very little - one guitar) to put a 7 ply binding on the front of a LP style guitar. Came out ok.

If your binding is celluloid nitrate, it softens easily with a little heat that helps bend it around tight spaces. I used a hair dryer (blow dryer) for a few seconds to soften the binding around tight curves. You don't really have to do that around more gentle curves.

Good luck.

[Devon Headen]

Don't heat the celluloid too hot or it will burn. Trust me, I've had it happen.

[mdw3332]

Gluing the binding is not all that difficult, I just use a ton of masking tape. The key piece is getting the channel cut accurately. I use the Stew Mac routing bit with bearings. Works great. This is my second binding job. Also, the glue that I use is the same stuff that Stew Mac sells - I bought it at a local plastics / sign supply shop.

[sscovill]

It doesn't look like your binding "folds" over the top of the body. Is it just the picture, or did you just apply it to the sides?

[rradams]

Hi sscovill,

The binding usually doesn't fold over the top. It sits on a ledge cut into the body and has enough thickness that it shows both on the side and the top. It comes in straight strips of many dimensions... (send for a Stewmac catalog and you'll get a good idea of what they look like. The catalog is great to have around as kind of a wish book. :-) The binding is then formed to follow the contours of the body. Be careful using high heat or open flame to help bending the material. Cellulose based binding can burst into flame on you. As said before masking tape is your friend while working with bindings... Hope some of this helped...

Rubin