Official Luthiers Forum!

I agree with Kevin. A tilt base works fine for cutting the binding channels. I set up the base to find a happy medium between the butt of the guitar and the neck end of the guitar. The neck end usually need a bit more tilt. I cut the channels and then use a file to true up the channel. This takes little time at all.
I also prefer the PC trimmer to the Dewalt. The Dewalt design is a bit of a pain to adjust in my opinion.
I also use the Lutheirstool base and feel comfortable with it. As Michael said, it takes a bit of getting used to. The trick is to keep the bearings against the side of the guitar. Some of my students find this method a little intimidating.

Thanks for the advice on donuts all.

Here's a link to a picture of a donut:
http://www.dewguitars.com/bindingjig/UHMW%20Donut.htm

I would definitely agree with Robbie on all points. When I first started making steel strings, he showed me how to rout binding channels with just a tilt base trimmer. I did my first couple that way, and they turned out great. And the DeWalt does seem to suck.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

I appreciate all the replies on this thread and have enjoyed learning a lot about the various jigs that are available. The one from Luthier Tools looks very nice.

In the meantime (isn't there always a meantime).....

I'm not seeing an adjustable bottom guide for the Porter-Cable 7319 that will allow me to control how far into the guitar the cut will be made.

Any suggestions out there on what is available.

It would be nice to have something like StewMac offers for their Dremel Router Base - looks like this:



Suggestions (other than biting the bullet and purchasing the Luthier Tools jig)?

Thanks

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Yes, just get a Makita, they come complete with the guide bearing. I believe Bosch make an aftermarket one for their trimmer as well, though I've never seen one over here.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Remember..... I'm looking at the Porter-Cable 7319 because it has a tilting base.

Does Makita make one that tilts? I've not seen one.

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Paul,

PC sells a laminate trimmer kit that comes with a standard base, tilt base and offset base. They also make an edge guide similar to the Stew Mac one you showed. The last time I bought their laminate trimmer kit I paid about US$175 if I remember correctly. This was about 5 years ago. The tilt base sold seperately is about 80 bucks.
I hear the Bosch and Makita are also nice but have no experience with them.

I have the Bosch edge guide. One can get the full kit from Amazon as well. Straight edge guide, roller guide, tilt base, offset base:

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PR20EVSNK-I ... 77-1821266

The Hitachi I mentioned earlier also comes with an edge guide (and, it has a tilting base). I cannibalized the edge guide for parts for my binding jig, though...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

JRessler,
I take an angle gauge and check the segment of the guitar's perimeter that falls in a particular
angle and mark it from one end to the other with a line that forms a cord between the two ends.

Then I measure the next agle and mark a cord from one end of it to the other, alowing the cords
to overlap by about an inch or so to provide an area where the slightly different cutter angles will
blend into one another almost seamlessly.

The angle that runs across the edge where the neck meets the body will present the steepest
angle....much steeper than what is measured around the lower bout. This cut runs across that
edge and slightly into the radius as it starts to break towrd the waist.

It may take three or four changes to get a very smooth blending of the cuts and very little file
work is needed to make the overlap places disappear. A few strokes and any small lumps or
ridges are gone.

The thing to remember is that each side of the lower bout should be identical to one another just
as the waist in either side will be and the sides of the upper bout so I make the cuts at the first
angle on both sides and them move to the next and male both of them and so on.

A cutaway presents its own set of angle adjustments that are necessary....maybe three separate
angles just to make the cut work in the cutaway area itself.

A single depth and width of cut will carry the job all of the way around the guitar so the angle is
all that needs to change as you make your way around.

Once you'v done it a time or two, it really gets to be second nature and goes surpisingly quickly.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Ahhhhhh for the love of the internet, persistence and craigslist.com!!!!

I found a guy who's got a brand new Hitachi TR6 - still in the box. Exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks all for the lessons I've learned through this thread that I am sure are going to come in useful in the future.

Only a very few tools left to gather and my son and I will be off on our first "solo flight".

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions but now I'm off searching for chisels (does it ever end??? hahahahaha)

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Paul,
To answer your question.....No it never ends. My list of tools and machines to get is just
as long as it's ever been and you've seen that I have a shop full of just about every tool imaginable.

I don't care if a tool does one single little thing...I like to have it and I think the same is
true of any guitar builder or craftsman.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars