Question for our resident luthier

[cbass]

I'm about to someday bind the F-holes on a tele type build.Its an alder back and Figured walnut top.I milled all the wood myself with a chainsaw.I'm going to do a walnut neck not sure about the fretboard yet maybe some hard ass tropical wood I've got.I've got some ebony but I'm saving that.

I'll post some pics when I get a chance.

Any tips do I just pre bend the binding with a heatgun?

[Reeltarded]

I do it by eye with a pair of tiny needle nosed pliers. Not too much heat, use just enough. Get the curves close, then with fresh edged blade cut your angles but leave them immeasurably proud of the actual lengths if using celluloid, then glue them in and tape it up after wiggling the joints to weld 'em up. If it's normal plastic you will never really lose the joints, and don't cut that stuff proud. Gotta be perfect fit.

Draw out the hole on a piece of paper and practice bending some. It's fun!

I love binding an F-5. Takes all day, and that scroll freaks people out.

[cbass]

Its plastic binding.Do you miter the angle cuts?Or butt them together.I gues mitering would make the least amount of joint showing.

[xtian]

I milled all the wood myself with a chainsaw.

Chainsaw?!? Like when they carve Kodiak bear statues out of logs?

[cbass]

No nothing that extensive just turning logs in to rough lumber

[Reeltarded]

Its plastic binding.Do you miter the angle cuts?Or butt them together.I gues mitering would make the least amount of joint showing.

It depends if it's multi-layered, normally. It's nicer for single ply plastic.. but.. depends. It's just as easy either way, I think.

[cbass]

Guess I'll just have to start Fing up some binding and see what happens.

[Reeltarded]

Yeah. Cut up an old pickguard and you'll get the hang in 10 minutes.

[Structo]

What I would do is mock up a piece of wood with an F hole in it and practice on it.

Some guys use super glue while other use acetone and binding chips dissolved in it for a paste.
Or Duco cement.

[Reeltarded]

I use celuloid and duco exclusively. Super glue is a MESS! Use Tite-Bond. Joinery of any kind with a non-solvable material is a mess.

Ceeb, if you need some thin multi-ply or single layer celuloid in an easy color let me know. I have w/b/w and white for sure.

You could always send it to me and let the moron take the heat.

heh

[telentubes]

What are you using for binding?

I use Duco for all the plastic stuff. Acetone for joints sometimes. Titebond for wood only. Heat it with a heat gun. Do not let it catch on fire. It burns like crazy.
It's tricky to get it to just the right temp for bending, and the workability window is short. It cools quickly and won't bend any more. I use wedges etc along with tape for F holes.

Speaking of F5s, here are a couple of shots of one I finished last week and shipped Monday. And yes, as Reeltarded mentioned, the scrolls are a freak show to bind.

[dcribbs1412]

Beautiful work!

[Randy Magee]

That's a beautiful mando! What brand name do you make?

[Reeltarded]

Fantastic! Beautiful! Woohoo!

[Structo]

Wow!

Nice work!:D

Had no idea there was a mando maker in our midst.

I would love to be able to do that or inlay work.