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Well here's one way. Hope it might help someone.





And the direct links if you want to view it larger in high quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9rzzTx-6Yc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6R-BHVwOEw

I always like watching your demonstrations, Chris. I find them very helpful, and I'm sure lots of other newbies find them helpful, too.
Patrick

Good tutorials man. I suppose the masking tape gets glued down sometimes. Perhaps the fingers do too.

I like the way your fingers and thumbs bend back 90º. Wish I could do that.

Hip.

Excellent toot Chris bro!

And - your shop looks pretty clean too!

Nice video, Chris.

I have used CA for 5 years and do things a bit differently. On your technique, I have a few comments:

...I've never had good results with masking tape because IMO it's too weak. The brown tape that StewMac & LMI sell allows for much more force to be applied than any masking tape I ever used. One problem with the brown tape is that CA reacts with the tape's glue to form a hard mass of gunk that makes for difficult tape removal. Instead, a few years ago I went with fiber-reinforced strapping tape. One can really put lots of lateral and vertical force on it to keep the bindings tight...and it doesn't react with the glue.

...I use far less volume of the CA than you use in the video...about 75% less!!! Capillary action of the CA is very efficient and your "flooding" is placing far more than necessary. Most of the capillary action happens faster than you can see, and by the time you see anything puddling, you've already far exceeded the amount needed. I use one of the bulb pipettes that you show in the video. The amount of CA I use for one half of a top fits in the barrel of that pipette. The problem with using too much CA is that it can work its way into the guitar's interior and run if you have any kerf showing. You'll be amazed at how much less you can use. In 5 years, I have never had a binding release using much less CA.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thank you for sharing your method. This is very interesting.

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http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Nice Chris. Thanks for posting it. Makes it look easy, like anyone can build a guitar.

Couple of questions…

Does the CA ever tend to run out at the bottom as you fill? If so, I assume that doesn’t cause a problem with staining the sides (else you wouldn’t use it), but I am curious since you did mention the CA has a tendency to soak into the top and can cause it to yellow.

How long a time do you need to wait for the CA to hold the strips before you remove the tape? If you had mentioned that, I missed that.

How many tubes of CA do you go through just for the top binding? It looks like it takes quite a bit of CA. How many ounces are in one of those tubes?

Anyone care to comment on the difference in this process if one used HHG? In the one other video I saw on this process (the 4:26 minute guitar?) the kid didn’t use tape and the binding stuck right to the sides. Was that HHG?

My one experience with HHG, building my rosette, required clamping every couple of inches and so I could not proceed very quickly. Eventually I gave up and resorted to CA which worked quite well. I still used clamps to hold each layer to the rosette as I worked my way around the rosette with each layer of (?) binding. I wonder if stretchy tape would have worked just as well, but I think I would have needed to bend the layers much more tightly to the rosette curve as anytime I got a small bend/bump I’d need the clamp to get rid of the bump. Lots to learn.

Nice vid Chris. I'd never thought of doing the binding first but I don't usually do very wide purflings. I can see some advantages to your method.

As to CA staining, I've found some brands/formulas stain much worse than others. The hardware store stuff doesn't seem to nearly as bad as the large bottle I got at Rocklers a while back. Either way a spit coat or shellac is a good idea.

JJ, that 233 tape isn't like regular brown masking tape. It's used in auto body work and that's where I bought it. It may have glue that is simular to the tape you use I don't know and I use to just use blue painter's tape. This is the tape that Mario uses to also clamp top and back plates as I think he said it has something like 6 lbs. of pressure or more. I'm not too sure but so far I like it as it doesn't have a very high tack either. I use strapping tape on the ends of my thickness sander to hold the paper to the roll but that's another story. As far as the amount of CA you could be correct as this is the first time I used wood bindings and it seems like the wood takes the CA alot faster and better then cellulose or plastic. I also like the CA to fill any small gaps. I used 2 of the tubes to do the top half. The tubes say net 3g. and some say net 2g. not very much but a 3 pack cost $.59. If you think I use a lot of CA there then wait and see how much I use on the top purf and inlays. But I hear you on it running inside through any gaps, good point to watch out for.

You might want to have some acetone at reach if you get sloppy and haven't used CA much. Seems like CA will glue your skin to something faster then anything else. WHEN WORKING WITH CA ALWAYS USE EYE PROTECTION!!! Those tips or pipettes can get clogged up with CA and that stuff can squirt out and go anywhere and you don't want it in your eye! I forgot to mention that in the video. I tend to forget that since I wear glasses to see close up.

Hey Mike, if I just do a couple of lines for the top purf I'll set it all at once but this one is going to have some ablam in it. A little bit of flash.

Chris...On the tape issue, I actually prefer a tape with higher tack. I've had weaker tape slip and create gaps...especially at the waist. Also...because capillary action moves CA in all directions, it also seeps into the areas under the tape. I therefore never have needed to add more CA once I have removed the tape.

I too prefer to glue in the purfling first ...unless I'm using abalone. And when using abalone, I like to use the teflon spacer strips that are the same width as the Abalone. The spacer maintains uniform channel dimensions and assures that the Abalone will have the proper fit.

Looking forward to the next video on the purf installation. Thanks for the heads up on the amount of CA you continue to use. Let me know when you start buying CA in 55 gal drums...I'll buy stock in Monsanto!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I realize that I might over do the CA a bit but you know as well as I that you will find what works for you and what you are confortable with and even that will change with time. I use alot of gobars too.
Hesh Buddy, The shop needs a good dusting.

That neon green auto body tape is good stuff.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Chris,

Great video. You make it look so easy. I actually was going to email you and ask you what the green tape was that you used to tape the sanding disks that you sent me into a roll. It was strong stuff. So now I know.

I can't wait to see a video of the shell installation. Are you planning one?

Thanks for the video.

John

Oh and since no one has said it... Nice beard.

Thanks John, I'm planning on doing one on it. I'm going to start getting setup either today or tomorrow. I might make up a tool that I saw Eugene Clark use to cut his veneer strips with and a couple of buckles. I also have a beveled arm rest that is going to be a bit tricky to do as far as I can tell now. I might save that for last and just do the other half first. Don't know yet, decissions, discissions.
I grew the beard just in time. It's freezing here! The high is only 63 today!

http://www.shop3m.com/70006246493.html
For those interested in the tape. I got mine at NAPA for less $.

Chris,

We must be thinking alike. Guess what the next Luthier Tips du Jour video is about?

Robbie, That's pretty cool that I'm giving you ideas.
I just got a camera that records video too and as I fumble my through this build I just get it out and shoot. If you noticed I even show some of my mistakes like the hard CA in the channel. The accelerator came out of the pipette far more then I wanted. But that stuff happens. I know the big boys are probably getting some chuckles out of them but I just hope the new comers are getting something from them. Just like I do from yours. Not the chuckles but some info. I'm all for seeing videos of how others do their work. We need more of them.