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Can two sandwiched strips of binding be used in place of one binding and one purfling? I have seen this done on some classical guitars and it can have a good visual effect. Don't know about steel stringed instruments, though - would the kerfing be weakened too much?
DaveB

I do not recommend that. The 2 together will add up to about 1/8 inch. You will then cut well into the kerfing. If you want to use the wider purfling , cut the inside you want on a band saw and split it so you have about 1/16 inch high and use that . This way you won't take any of the structure out of the guitar.

If you are using "reverse rounded" kerfing it will work just fine, the sides plus the kerfing is about .32" thick and over .50" tall ---- plenty of material. On the other hand if common triangular kerfing is used, like John mentioned you are asking for trouble. The RR has a solid band (its what makes the stuff so attractive looking inside the guitar) that does not get cut in the channeling process. The band on the triangular stuff is glued to the sides (no added strength) plus all that is holding the kerfing together after routing is whats left of the tiny triangular sections -- these are very weak even at standard depth until the purf and binding are glue in place. I know of guys that cut standard kerfing too deep and the top popped of the rim!!

Thanks guys. I am using RR style on this guitar.
DaveB

Couldnt you achieve the same effect by using one strip of traditional binding and one piece of solid colored purfling?
There is no reason to actually use two sets of binding per edge, right?

One more "yeehaw" for RR kerfing:
On the wedge OM, I had a real female dog of a time fitting the back and I needed to sand the rim down pretty far. I had already kerfed it, so I asked Ken how deep I could go and still have enough left to bind the guitar. He said I was good to go and I had sanded off about 45% of the height of the kerfing strips in a couple of areas. So glad I used RR. And it looks pretty to boot!

Tony asked : "There is no reason to actually use two sets of binding per edge, right?"


Tony, that word 'reason' is kinda slippery, isn't it? If by 'reason' you mean 'necessity', then you are correct.

But whether I'm 'right' or 'wrong' about this is not my concern; what is, is that I want to do it!! :-)

I hope you've got your humor on today, Tony! :-)

DaveB

deadedith wrote:Tony asked : "There is no reason to actually use two sets of binding per edge, right?"


Tony, that word 'reason' is kinda slippery, isn't it? If by 'reason' you mean 'necessity', then you are correct.

But whether I'm 'right' or 'wrong' about this is not my concern; what is, is that I want to do it!! :-)

I hope you've got your humor on today, Tony! :-)

DaveB

I almost always have my humor on DaveB! And so to you I say:
Hey man, if you want to make a pearl inlay of your back side and put it on the head stock, I aint gonna stop you! I was just asking if there was another way that might be easier! But the heart wants what the heart wants, right?
Now, if you will excuse me, I need to scan a picture of my back side and send it to Andy DePaule so he can turn it into a work of art. Well...a work of art in pearl, it is already a work of art in flesh and blood. Trust me. I say "trust me" because there is no way I will be posting a pic of my back side, OK ;o)

Hey you are not trying to make me the butt of a joke, are you? :-)

I would have to mortgage my house to buy enough abalone to represent my backside LOL
DaveB

Dave,
Ken's suggestion sounds like the best way to accomplish the look you are going for. Cut the inside binding down to an 1/8" or a little less and install it like you would purfling.....same look as what you've described as setting two thicknesses of binding side by side (both full height I assume).
Or you can use two thin bindings to make up the thickness of one, and glue them in.

Kevin

Or, put the purfling on the outside and the binding inside that.
Yes, I'm kidding...

One regular binding and one thin will do me just fine. Thanx for the input.

DaveB