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Hi Forum, I am building my 2nd kit and wonder what the consensus is regarding the best equipment to rout binding and purfling channels? I used a Dremel with the Stew Mac attachment to do bindings only for the 1st gat ,but am thinking of putting a purfling channel as well for the top on the 2nd. Also which channel needs to be cut first? the purfling or the binding??
Regards Mark

I rout my purfling channel first and use a Ribbecke type tower.

lets say that much of this will depend on what you use. A dremel base will require the binding first as you are not locating like the binding jigs. You may have to step cut the channel and clean up with a file to attain a parallel channel to the sides. Then you can cut the purfling.
In the binding jigs that most of us use , the pilot bearing will dictate. If the bearing is thin it may ride in the binding cut so do a sample set up test cut to know for sure. There is an advantage to the binding jigs for sure.

Keep the pinkies out of the sharp stuff.

Just to put it out there, I have the dremel base and bit from stew mac; someone had given them to me. I've tried the dremel one time, got about 10 seconds into a test cut, and haven't used it again. It may work, but in comparison to other setups, I feel it's garbage.

I, not to long ago, picked up a fleishman binding setup from John, and I can say that it is by far my favorite setup to use yet. I've used a handful of the regular tower setups with cradles, which are ok, but the fleishman has it's perks for sure.

I use the stewmac cutter and bearing set, and I cut my purfling second.

-Dan