Zip Flex

[David L]

Does anyone know if Zip Flex can be used on the side of the guitar body for example next to the bottom edge of the binding? The information that I have found said that it can be used on the side as in the style of the 45 but I can't find a picture of a style 45 that shows me what I need to answer my question. I know it bends well on the plane of side to side but the plane of up and down is where my concern is, if that makes sense.

Thanks,
David L

[MaineGeezer]

It bends sufficiently up/down so I don't think you'll have a problem. It tends to kink if bent with no support, but if it's following a surface it works pretty well. Here's a picture of a piece wound around a 2-1/4" diameter roll of tape.
Even if it breaks, I think you would have little difficulty inlaying the pieces.
a

[David L]

That's a pretty tight curve, should work all the way around a guitar.

Thanks,
David L

[MaineGeezer]

The only place I think might be a problem is going around a tight-radius cutaway. I just tried bending it to a concave radius, and it had a bit more trouble bending in that direction than it did with the convex radius. It's still workable though, and unless your radius is significantly less than 1-1/8" (2-1/4" diameter of my test roll), you should be okay.

[David L]

I'm planning on using it on a OO-14 fret which has a pretty tight waist (which would be the concave). That's going to be the place I'm most concerned about. Another consideration is that I'm going to be using the .064 wide stock around the sides as opposed to the .047 stock. I believe that the wider the stock, the harder it is to make it bend to the radii. On the top of the guitar I'm going to use the .079 wide stock and again the waist will be of concern however the material will be bending on the side to side plane so I think I'll be okay there. Any thoughts? I'm all ears!

Thanks,
David L

[MaineGeezer]

I don't think you'll have a problem. The increased width shouldn't make a difference as far as up/down bending goes, or at least not enough to notice. It's still the same thickness. Even if a strip does break, you'll still be able to glue in the pieces.

I checked the 4 guitars I happen to have lying around. Only one of them, a Gibson L-1 copy, has a waist curve close to 2-1/4" dia., and that's only for a short section before it widens out again. You'll be fine. Don't worry. :)