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Hi All, i am currently working on my first build (OOO 14fret Lutz/Walnut). The box has been closed and the bindings installed. I am not happy with the results I had after binding the guitar. The problen is that I did not level the sides prior to using the binding fixture (which is the SM Tru Channel) When I went back to remove the glue I accidentally sanded some of the maple wood binding to thin. I also scraped the sides too thin in certain areas again trying to get the glue off. These thinned areas are about .030 deep when checked with a straight edge.

My question is should I remove the binding and true up the sides? this will mean thinnind the sides down to .040 or .050 in these thin channels, then replace the binding.
Or just finish the guitar as is. It is not unsightly, it just bugs me

Thanks
Richard

Richard this is one of those gray areas where everyone is going to have an opinion.......

I would finish the guitar as is, consider what you learned, and get busy on the next one. This is of course if the guitar is not intended for anyone else but you.

.040 - .050 sides are too thin and not likely to survive additional thinning or truing up.

I did this on my 1st guitar and I just radiused the corners of the binding a little more than normal and it at least on maple binding makes it harder to notice the thin area, we seldom look straight at the binding and at an angle the radius makes it look thicker.

If you want to redo the binding, scrape the sides flat and square and recut the binding channel with the old binding still on this will make the job easier and the binding will route off easily.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I agree. There is much to learn in guitar building. Just keep moving forward. I occassionally go back and look at my first couple which I thought at the time were "great" and I now cringe over some of the things that I never noticed back then. We all go through this. Just keep truckin.




I have built a number of guitars with .05X" sides and they were all fine. But I don't think I would attempt doing that on your first build.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

thanks for the responses. I think i am going with Hesh's suggestion and finish this guitar with a lesson learned.

Thanks
R

Hesh & Brock have given you great advise.

Maybe there should be a forum just for the mistakes made while making instruments!!!
It happens even in the factories with all their planning and tooling .

Do NOT let one setback lessen your spirit !

Mike

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Mike Collins

Do like MichaelP. Put it in a metal trashcan and burn it! Kidding!

BUT, I still cannot believe he does that! (or was that Todd?)

Mike

I did it, too, Richard. I hate to even detail all the stuff I went through to camouflage my error. I had used multiple thin strips of binding so I could bend it easier. I found out the hard way it was easier to sand through to one of the glue lines, too. YIKES! I hid two spots so well I can barely see them, and I know where to look for them. I left a third spot fairly visible to remind myself not to do that again. Of course, it's my own guitar so I could get away with that. Actually, I sort of like the idea of a forum just for mistakes. I bet we could save some people a bunch of grief if we posted our mistakes. But some of my mistakes are so stupid that I just hate to own up to them.

Patrick