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What is the secret to good side purfling? It has to bend, but it lays on its side. Trying to bend it along the flat plane makes it break. I tried wetting it to soften it on my 00 guitar, but the BWB purfling came apart.

So, how do you do this right?

Try a heat gun, maybe? Or some other heat source.

This may not be the look you want, but I used this stuff http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Su ... dings.html
with the attached B/W strips, and that worked quite well.

I glue the purfling to the bindings first. I then use the same tape I use for bindings and tape a pair of the bindings\purfling together purfling to purfling using 4-5 strips of tape. The tape will keep the purflings clamped to the bindings when the glue softens while bending. They bend easily this way in a side bender or by hand on a bending iron or hot pipe.

johnnparchem wrote:I glue the purfling to the bindings first. I then use the same tape I use for bindings and tape a pair of the bindings\purfling together purfling to purfling using 4-5 strips of tape. The tape will keep the purflings clamped to the bindings when the glue softens while bending. They bend easily this way in a side bender or by hand on a bending iron or hot pipe.

+1 on this.

I glue (CA) the side pieces to the binding and put all four binding pieces in the bender taped together. In spite of the heat and moisture, they generally hold up very well.

You mean you glue the purfling to the BOTTOM of the binding first, then bent the binding?

I didn't have any trouble controlling the binding, except at the waist. It twisted in one small place because of the bend.

I'm talking about the purfling in the sides of this guitar in this link download/file.php?id=8208&mode=view

For individual already dimensioned binding pieces I used to use ca, but I've switched to Titebond 3 and a bunch of these little clamps. I've also gone with say a 4" x 36" X 1/4"+ and glued veneer layers of walnut/maple/walnut veneers or black dyed veneer and maple etc. then cut on the band saw and run through the drum sander.

Diane Kauffmds wrote:You mean you glue the purfling to the BOTTOM of the binding first, then bent the binding?

I didn't have any trouble controlling the binding, except at the waist. It twisted in one small place because of the bend.

I'm talking about the purfling in the sides of this guitar in this link download/file.php?id=8208&mode=view

I am assuming you are talking about wood bindings, but Yes Glue it do the bottom of the binding first and bend as I suggested. It will bend right along with the bindings.

Yes, wood bindings. Thanks John.

Can you split the purfling down the middle or something so it's not as tall relative to its width?

MaineGeezer wrote:Can you split the purfling down the middle or something so it's not as tall relative to its width?

I've done that once, but last two guitars I did I just scraped the side purfling to the same depth as the binding which then bends without issue.