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What's the preferred order for doing the binding and purfling cuts?

It kind of depends on the what kind of cutter you use. If you use the LMI or StewMac binding cutter/bearing kit, you are one the safe side if you cut the purfling channel first. If you do the binding channel cut first, you run into problems if the bearing used for the purfling "falls" into the binding channel.

There is no written rule but I will always do the purfling first . Check this vid out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lan2pKWE1Do , the reason I do it this way is to reduce tear out and control it if it does happen. Doing the purfling first you have a ledge ,this in its own helps support the wood so as you cut you lower the risk of tear out . Then when you do the side binding ,if you do have tear out the ledge of the purfling is the weak point and chances are that is where the tear out will stop . That way if you do need to repair the area from the tear out you can do it in a way that it won't be seen.
The other consideration is cutting direction and when you want to rout cut or climb cut. This video should help you to get a good result. Have fun and keep the fingers out of the sharp stuff
john

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Actually it may matter what order you cut the channels....

If by chance you purchased your binding router bit set from Stew-Mac prior to about 2 years ago you would want to cut the purfling channel first with this cutter and then the binding channel. The Stew-Mac cutter used to need the operations done in this order but with the LMI cutter you could cut the channels in either order.

Approximately two years ago Stew-Mac identified this issue and began shipping their binding router bit set with a brass spacer that eliminates the issue and with the current iteration of this cutter you can cut either channel in either order.

Lots of folks tool up for guitar building over time and/or have had some of their tools provided from other sources so I thought that I would mention when and when it can matter just in case....

The climb cuts are a good idea as mentioned and if you go to Stew-Mac's site and find the binding router bit set one of the illustrations is a diagram of how to make these cuts. Years ago I copied this diagram and keep it with my binding router bits so I can tape it on the wall when I am cutting binding channels.

The diagram makes good sense when it comes to routing the purfling channel so that damage to the soundboard is avoided, however, it pays to look closely at the orientation of the grain in the sides when planning the direction of travel for cutting the binding channel - in my book, the diagram no longer applies. If in doubt, climb cut.

Cheers
Pete

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Cheers
Pete