Router table binding jig

[HouseDr0001]

Hi all, New to the forum and guitar building. I have closed the body and used a router table with a flush cutting bit to trim the top and bottom. I have been looking for someone who has used a router table to cut binding and purfling slots to little avail. One video I found was by Ken Cierpolowski but it doesn't show what he is using to support the guitar. I was thinking of building a jig similar to the Elevate jig, referencing the sides of the guitar and using a fixed sloped spacer around the cutter to accommodate the curvature in the back and top. any thoughts and input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[phavriluk]

Ken was quite proprietary about his guitar support. What it was, was a small body guitar outline that had a couple-inch-wide, inch-thick layer of foam all around the perimeter of the support. Idea was to compress the foam just enough to keep the rim square to the router bit as the rim was passing through the router. Practice helps.

I use one of these that I bought from Ken while he was still running his business.

[HouseDr0001]

Thank you,

Interestingly enough I had a similar idea but wasn't sure about the movement in the foam. I experimented with a rigid outline that was slightly smaller than the guitar but feel you actually need some flexibility to keep the sides aligned with the jig. I'm also trying a felt type carpet pad. I'll post some photos of the results. Shout out to Ken and thanks for the info.

[BlindBo]

Early on I just did them with a hand router with the body on my work bench. Back then I didn’t realize how important the precision of these steps was and the results were pretty variable. LOTS of repairs and more than a little cursing.😂
Blues Creek Guitars sells a very nice routing machine that works very well (albeit it’s pretty expensive for a hobbyist). Like what you are describing, there is an adjustable jig that for setting the guitar level and an articulating arm holding the router which has the “Donut” around the bit to minimize the contact and the effect of the curvature of the back and top. It produces very consistent steps that need very little adjustment.
If you plan to continue building, you may be able to justify buying one. I wish I had early on.
Good luck with your new hobby!

[phavriluk]

Thank you,

Interestingly enough I had a similar idea but wasn't sure about the movement in the foam. I experimented with a rigid outline that was slightly smaller than the guitar but feel you actually need some flexibility to keep the sides aligned with the jig. I'm also trying a felt type carpet pad. I'll post some photos of the results. Shout out to Ken and thanks for the info.

Because of the taper in guitar bodies, there's a need for a LOT of compressibility in the foam support. Ken used foam for a good reason.

[TEETERFAN]

A 1” thick piece of foam works nicely if it has good “squish ability”. Cut it in from the body outline about 2”-3”.

[CherryLine]

Totally agree! Having decent routing and fretwork from the start saves so much hassle.

On my last build I used a kit from The Guitar Fabrik, didn’t have to tweak much before jumping into finishing and setup. Made the whole process way smoother -> https://guitarkitfabric.co.uk/products.html