Official Luthiers Forum!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/

Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=44526		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Paul Burner [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 10:40 am ]
Post subject:  Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
I need some suggestions for binding that would have some great color and character with some nice flame - but I need something darker than Maple.

I've used curly Koa - but am looking for some other options to research.

Not an expert here on woods to use that would fit this need. I also need something that is fairly readily available. [uncle] [uncle] [uncle]

Photos appreciated!
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 10:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
What about waterfall bubinga?
Author:  DennisK [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Purpleheart, walnut, cherry, Honduran mahogany, African mahogany, sapele, pink ivory (very difficult to find, though). Check RC Tonewoods for some of those.

What top/back/side woods will it be next to?
Author:  Paul Burner [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Bryan Bear wrote:
What about waterfall bubinga?



If my experience with bending waterfall bubbling sides is any indicator - it would be a bear to bend - no pun intended.
Author:  Paul Burner [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
DennisK wrote:
Purpleheart, walnut, cherry, Honduran mahogany, African mahogany, sapele, pink ivory (very difficult to find, though). Check RC Tonewoods for some of those.

What top/back/side woods will it be next to?



Thanks Dennis - I have 6 builds I will be doing next year and just looking at my options.

Here are the top/back combos:

EIR / Sitka
Spalted Tamarind / Redwood
Afr. Blackwood / Carpathian Spruce
EIR / Carpathian Spruce
Ziricote / Redwood or Carpathian
Striped Ebony / Redwood or Carpathian
Author:  Josh H [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
I'd consider curly Honduran Mahogany. It has very consistant colour. Bends and works well, and really nice figure. You can find it at Hibdon.

http://www.hibdonhardwood.com/products/binding-stock
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Paul Burner wrote:
Bryan Bear wrote:
What about waterfall bubinga?



If my experience with bending waterfall bubbling sides is any indicator - it would be a bear to bend - no pun intended.


Hey! I resemble that remark. <G>
Did you use super soft II? That stuff makes it feel like cheating. Though I haven't bent bubinga.

Hibdon had some nice looking curly mahogany last time I was there, that might be too similar to koa though. They also had some Chechen that I thought might be interesting for bindings because it is kind of verigated in color (not sure if it would be lost on a piece as thin as binding though) but it wasn't figured. . .
Author:  Heath Blair [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
To me, some of those builds are screaming for ebony or rosewood appointments. That's my style though. Some darker woods that you can find with curly figure: ovangkol, imbuia and the walnuts. For lighter woods, I have some waterfall bubinga SAPWOOD bindings that match incredibly well with the tones in ziricote. No experience bending it yet. Holly, to my eye, is a great contrast to the darker back and sides you have listed above. Finding usable lumber can be difficult.
Author:  wbergman [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Aren't there some penetrating stains that would work?
Author:  Jfurry [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Plus one on the purple heart
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Curly walnut, claro or otherwise. Reasonable price, beautiful color.
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Curly roasted maple.

Alex
Author:  John Lewis [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Bob Cefalu has some nice flamed Honduran mahogany bindings cheap on ebay!
Author:  Matthew Jenkins [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Curly Makore
Curly Eucalyptus

Makore has a nice glow, the Eucalyptus might be a bit grey
Author:  unkabob [ Sat Nov 08, 2014 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
I think that it requires a medium darkness, mahogany or cherry. I use hickory.

Bob
Author:  Hank Mauel [ Sun Nov 09, 2014 11:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Sycamore...as on many Lowdens.
Author:  Steven Odut [ Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Need binding with good flame but not curly Koa or Maple
Paul Burner wrote:
Here are the top/back combos:

EIR / Sitka
Spalted Tamarind / Redwood
Afr. Blackwood / Carpathian Spruce
EIR / Carpathian Spruce
Ziricote / Redwood or Carpathian
Striped Ebony / Redwood or Carpathian


Here's a photo of EIR back/Spruce top with curly mahogany bindings. The curly mahogany is readily available from StewMac or LMI, I forget which I bought it from. Looks great, and wasn't too hard to bend. The quality was pretty good, but buy twice as much as you need and pick and match the nicest pieces.

Attachment:
IMG_3832_side.jpg
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/