Trimming Binding

[Darryl Young]

When and how do you trim your wood binding to length and perfect angle for a 90 deg butt joint?

Seems if you trim before gluing, you run the risk of leaving it too long. If you start glueing at the waist, it is difficult to cut a perfect 90 deg joint while the binding is half glued in place.

Thoughts?

[B. Howard]

I make the cut at the tail on the bench with a razor saw and start my bindings from the tail. The bindings on the top need not meet perfectly as they are hidden by the FB. The ones on the back can only be see on the back as they disappear on the sides behind the heel. I make those cuts in place with my razor saw. Glue one side in first and leave it a little long, glue the other side around to the upper bout and lay it over the one you have already glued on. Cut through both at once with the razor saw and depending on how wide your saw kerf is you may need to file the one you are gluing a bit to get a perfect fit.