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I've seen some people do it by hand with a chisel, some with specialized tools and most with dremels. I'm planning out my first build now and I want to see what tools I'm going to need. I already have a good set of chisels, but if its worth it to set aside the money for another tool then I'm willing to do so. Also, what do you use to cut your rosette channels? Thanks.

Dewalt laminate trimmer and jig registering off side and top or bottom.Very little cleanup with chisel and file. Also use it for rosette work.
Tom

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

I use the LMI gramil for the binding, and a home made jig for cutting the rosette channels using the cutting arm of the gramil.
It might be a good idea getting the gramil and something for cutting circles even if you will use a power tool for removing the bulk. Pre-scoring avoids tearout. I have often seen router tearout around rosettes and I find it completely unacceptable.

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Build log

My 1st 2 were done with a dremel and it was a lot of extra work as the tool does not have enough power to do it is one pass. I now use the Stew Mac true channel jig a laminate trimmer and the LMI cutter and bearing set. Much quicker more accurate and gives me less to worry about.

Fred

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

i made a rosette cutter with a old marples marking guage
works easy and is accurate because its adjustable by the threadded bolt on the bottom

These videos will explain the operation of binding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lan2pKWE1Do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cwJiOVzE_E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-364fAT89b8

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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

Does anyone use this for Luthier Tools?

http://www.luthiertool.com/binding%20Bosch.html

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Eddie Lee

A Well/ Karol precision router base for rosette channels.
viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=18858
And a Doolin/ Ribbecke binding channel machine.
viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=19654

Ditto on the Wells/Karol jig for rosette cutting. And for binding, the Williams jig. Very safe, very acurate.

Mike

I have one and it's well-made and will do the job, and is infinitely adjustable... but it is kind of nerve-wracking to use because it's easy to tilt into the body and wreck your channel. I did that the first time I used it and had to add an extra layer of purfling. I'll continue to use it because it's what I have and I feel a little more comfortable with it now, but if I was starting from scratch I'd use one of the other designs that's a little more foolproof. It is nice though in that you can use a downcut spiral bit which leaves a very clean edge.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Thanks Jonathan- I think I will try a jig like Chris uses.

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Eddie Lee

Awww! Where's the love for the Williams jig?

Mike

This is the binding machine I built:

viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=19236

I believe it has the advantages of the Williams machine but costs less, is easier to build and takes less space. Works great!

Pat

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There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

+1 on Mr. Kendall's advice on the bit.
If you are considering a laminate trimmer and a jig, get a "Spiral Downcut" router bit.
The design of this bit makes for a razor-clean cut and minimizes the dreaded tearout...
FYI I made the jig as per the Bogdanovitch book for the laminate trimmer to cut rosettes and the soundhole and it works flawlessly.

I used a gramil and a jig I built. Space is an issue in my shop so I built a version of Stew Mac's jig from extruded aluminium I got off of eBay. It cost about half of what Stew Mac wanted. If I had my druthers and money wasn't an issue I would have bought the jig. Things being what they are this is what I came up with.

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Aoibeann

I also had in mind to copy the Stew Mac fixture or make a tower style one with drawer slides but decided to buy the StewMac one and am quite happy with it.



Fred

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

I made this one but am using the LMI bit and bearing set. Basically 2 drawer slides, some plywood scrap, a piece of 1/4" aluminum plate and a delrin donut.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I have used that base for years and really like it. One must be aware that the weight is in the trimmer so it is top heavy. This means attention must be paid to maintain contact with both bearings to the rim to keep the cut square to the rim. It take a bit of practice to get use to when and where the it will want to tilt in on you but once you have it is a great tool. The only bad thing I can say about it is that it is a tad limited on width of channel you can cut. It is set up for a ¼” bit and leaves you a tad short of .27” needed for a 1/16” shell purfling scheme. You can over adjust it to cut .27” but it requires you loosen the bearing assembly from the base and move it back just beyond the screw adjustment reach. Not I have had mine for many years. I wrote them and told them they needed .03 more adjustment to do a channel for a .09 binding/06 purfling/.06 shell/.06 purfling scheme. So it is possible that they have addressed this by now.