How thin can you go with mahogany?

[nkwak]

OK, this may sound confusing but bear with me. I installed the binding to my top with little problem but when it came time to install the binding and purfling on the back things didn't go so well. I'd ordered just 4 EIR binding strips so when the first attempt to do the back didn't go so well I had to chisel it off and reorder more. While I waited I went and glued on the last piece and things went well.

Here's where the problem lies: the new rosewood binding that came was thinner than my binding channel so that there would have to be enough material scaped away from the mahogany sides to counter for the shortfall. I took measurements but can't recall exactly but I believe that it would leave me with sides about .077" thick. That seems a bit thinner than I'd like to go, am I right or should I just move ahead and pray that it doesn't go too thin in places?

Or should I just order more binding and specify that I want something at least .085" thick and wait wait wait for the big brown truck to come again?

How about this? Could I get away with gluing a single piece 1/8" x .02" purfling to the inside of the rosewood binding and then cover that up with the back purfling that I've already used on the other side? The thought is that if I do it right I'll have a consistent gluing surface all the way around the inside face that will also glue to the inside surface of the binding channel. The trick would be trimming it thin enough so that the purfling for the back sits on top of it. Am I overthinking this or setting myself up for a catastrophe though?

[tippie53]

I have seen sides as thin from Martin as .065. I think if you are at .070 you should be save You should be good to go

[B. Howard]

I agree .070" sounds fine, about where I figure to end up actually. Shimming the binding out would indeed be an easy fix, but then the inside edge of the binding will no longer line up and this will throw of your purflings.

[nkwak]

Here are some images to illustrate:







Both sides have some cupping so I need to take them down anyway but the gap seems to be more pronounced on the upper bout. Does that mean I have to resolve that before I can establish my neck angle?

[tippie53]

as long as you stay above .070 you should be fine