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Ok guys I am starting my first guitar and have routed for the bindiing on the back and have started the top . I will route for the binding when The top is glued on . So I will have a UNSANDED BOX with binding channels cut . How much sanding do YOU do PRIOR to setting the bindings ( Plastic btw ) . This is my first and I would appreciate a little advice here .

Thanks

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WudWerkr : Suggest that you should sand your sides to remove any humps or bumps from them before you do any routering.Lay the full width of your hand lenghtwise on the sides and feel the full length of the guitar. You may be surprized how sensitive this is to picking up any discrepancies.Also check across the width of the sides with a small straight edge like a good scale.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Sides need to be very flat from edge to edge lest you risk uneven binding channels. For tops and backs I'd get out any dings, or heavy sanding marks if there are any. Just looking for anything that would decrease the height of the binding.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Thanks Tom I can always reroute and clean up after Ive sanded a bit since I have already routed the back. What would you sand to ? 320? 600? Before setting bindings Or do you sand finer than that ?

Thanks John !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

No matter if top or back, your sides need to be flat. I may do it different than others but after I have the top and back on some clean up, I route the plates to the sides (not binding channels) I then use the belt sander to get every thing smooth. I also use a scraper to make it smooth. Once sides are clean and smooth route the binding and purf channels. By the way if use the belt sander method just use the weight of the guitar for pressure and keep it moving. This is how did it in shop I worked at and now in my own. But may want to make sure your comfortable and know how to use sander before going this route or you can throw or get flat spots. No you don't need to go to 600 grit before binding 220 or so is fine.

John: I've never used plastic bindings,only wood. I clean up the sides to about 120 before router work. Would suggest for plastic you should go finer but some of the other folks will square that away for you. Good luck.
Tom

_________________
A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

120 is fine for wood or plastic. When it's all said and done and being made ready for finish I go to 220 with a hard cork block along the grain to remove any 220 orbital marks.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Thanks everyone for the input , Im using plastic this time to get a feeling for doing the binding . I am not really a fan of the plastic , but figured it might be easier first time out . Thanks again for everyones help !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/