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I am looking for ways to make customized purfling, that isn't readily available. I have hundreds of feet of mahogany, maple and some other veneer (around .030"). Maybe it's salvageable. Previous owner kept it in a hot dry attic. It is very dry, brittle, and not all flat. I have a windex spray bottle of Supersoft II. I don't yet have a vacuum bag set up, but can use a freezer compressor for the pump that pulls around 26 HG, and can make a bag (http://www.joewoodworker.com site)

Also along that line, maybe tips on making bindings with purfling attached would be fun. Again, this is for customized

Could some people chime in and share their method? I'm sure others would benefit. Thanks in advance.

Here are a couple of slide shows of my wheat and little blocks.

Wheat


Blocks

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Good question, Terry...I've struggled with this for some time and finally decided to glue layers of veneer or fiber to .250" thick x 6-9" wide x 36" long figured wood of various species. I place the layup in a home-made press and allow it to set for 48 hours minimum. It then becomes much easier and more accurate to cut .100" thick binding strips on the table saw. This process takes care of at least 50% of my purf needs and kills 2 birds together.

So on the occasions when I need loose purfs, I still purchase them in bulk. Hopefully we'll learn a new and better method!

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

http://harpguitars.websitetoolbox.com/p ... st41532804

Mike

Should I put a video up of me calling Gurian?

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

...only if you do your latest dance!

LOL...my point exactly...Gurian can do it far cheaper and more accurately than I can as well for individual purfs!

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

I just use my go-bar deck and Titebond to glue up veneers for purflng. It takes a lot of go-bars. I find that a light mist of water on both sides of the veneers befire I put the glue on helps keep them from curling, and seems also to help prevent them sliding around when I'm putting on the go-bars. You must leave things clamped for at least 24 hours.

I'm sure Gurian does a better job, but I sometimes like to use some woods that he might not have, so...

Doesn't Gurian have a fairly steep minimum order, too? For a hobby builder, that's a tough pill to swallow.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

You have to buy a full lay-up, and I think there is a $200 minimum. I don't know what you get out of a full lay-up. I assume it depends on what you are ordering. My guess is they only lay up full sheets of veneer for gluing, then cut after gluing. When you do it yourself, you can lay up in 1 or 2" strips and make what you need.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

One approach is to get together with a few friends and put in an order together, though that works best if you are all after the same sort of purflings/bindings. I did this a few years ago and it was a bit of work dividing up the stuff once it arrived, but worth it for me.

I don't know why 'bulk orders' are less common nowadays in the guitar forums I visit....

Gurian also produces bridge and end pins and other items that you can use to get (all-to-quickly!) to the minimum order level.


Cheers
John

Gurian also sells sheet stock at much cheaper prices than 'the usual suspects'.... so something more to pad that order with- $200 comes up quite quickly.

John

After building that candy cane purfling bar, a $200 min price makes sense. I have at least that in the materials.

I have been using flamed wood purflings (sort of like shell, but only wood) and I make them in a vacuum bag and cut them on the table saw. It is a bit of work but I really like doing them so I can pick the pieces I use.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

But,I'd hope that our guitars live long past us! Like Strad violins have kept his life's work alive.

I have the same design values. That little white line looks better with a little fire in it. I like more than just plain vanilla. I'm willing to do the work to get the result not commonly found.