Guitar Binding Machines - Which do you like the best?

[Kevin Sjostrand]

John,
I see you sell two different binding machines. Which one do you prefer, and why?

Ken Cierp, what do you like best about the one you manufacture and sell?

Anyone else have an opinion? I currently use a hand held trim router, but I want to move to a machine.

Kevin

[tippie53]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... nding&aq=1

here are the videos on you tube so you can see them in action . I have gravitated to the fleishman machine . I like the feel of having the router in my hand . Both work well but the added feel of the router works for me .
Most people that take my class leave with them. It is accurate and takes all the guess work out of binding.
thanks

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Yeah John, I saw your video on that machine, I like the idea of holding the router too. The tower looks great too, but a little more combersome maybe.
I noticed, you did not have to maintain any particular orientation of the router with the guitar body like needs to be done when routing with a hand held so the channels don't route shallow.

When I was building only one guitar, I figured I'd just do it by hand, but now having built 4, with no end in the future, I really need to get a machine.

Kevin

[tippie53]

Binding is one of the more difficult things in the fit and finish part of building guitars.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Yeah I did pretty well with my first 3 but I let the area on the cutaway on #4 get away from me....no excuse, I should have corrected the channel before I went for it, but I was having fits that night with the side purfling.......and that is a whole nother story.

Kevin

[kencierp]

What I like best – is that the KMG Binding machine is my invention. For the user – cost is under $200 ready to run, except for the standard ¼” straight bit. Note that it can be is used to trim the top and back overhang, and other channeling operations as well. Cutaways no problem! -- The machines are used in pro shops Preston Thompson, ARK and many others. Whetstone School Of Luthier also has one in the classroom. Here’s the scoop
http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/bi ... chine.html

[Ken C]

I use John's Fleishman machine and like it.

Ken

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Question for John,
Can you use the tower machine with a flush trim bit to trim the overhang of the top and back? I would assume so, but when one assumes.............. I am leaning towards this machine. Do you build them yourself?
Thanks.

Kevin

[tippie53]

sure
I actually use a router for this but it doesn't matter . It does the job .

[Darryl Young]

Instead of flush trimming, my preference would be to partially cut the binding channel. It's one less step for later on.......but the main reason it a slight recess of the binding channel allows the sides to be accurately leveled. You need the sides leveled accurately to cut the binding/purfling channels accurately.

I'm going to build a Fleishman jig to use on my next build.