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Thinking about making some binding with laminates that form a cool shape. Maybe something like herringbone.

Anyway, my question is - when I go to bend it, won't the glue just soften and deform the pattern? How do people do this?

Thanks.

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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

Aaron: Have never seen herringbone used as binding but I use it quite often as a top purfling. A run under hot water and then bend around a form, hold in place with brads and use a thin backer strip to prevent the brads from marking the bone. I also keep a hair dryer at the ready in case a bit of extra heat is needed. Let it dry in place. It will tend to relax when it comes of the form but works easily when your doing your binding. As to your original question, I have not had a problem with it coming apart or distorting the pattern.
Tom

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

Forget I said Herringbone. I just mean something similar. Kinda like a pattern of tiny veneer strips of different woods cut and arranged in a pattern and a long piece on either side to hold it all together. Seems like this would get all messed up once the wood gets hot enough to bend. Am I wrong? Maybe it is purfling that I'm thinking of. I feel like I've seen this done on Rosettes though and that's a full circle.

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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

Aaron: Are you saying side purfling under the binding strip. I have only seen solid lines used there.
Tom

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

I guess I was thinking about purfling which doesn't get bent with such a tight radius if at all. I was just observing my dad's old guitar and noticed a cool pattern on it. But you're right... It was purfling strips on the back.

When you do a multiple layer binding, do you install the pieces separately or pre-laminate them?

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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

Aaron: I glue purfling to the binding before bending using yellow glue. Then the strips are taped so the purfling are back to back. Masking tape every 4"or 5" and then bend with a heating blanket on a bending form. Have had no trouble with the bond.
Tom

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

Hey Aaron, I suggest doing a search for radial purfling. That's what I think you're referring to.

Do you mean something like this?

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

For fine pattern purfling like herringbone I just heat it with a cloths iron on the bench and bend it into the channel.
For something like rope binding or Brian's photo above....I glue on a veneer to the outside so it holds together while bending. Then the outside veneer gets scrapped off

That's a great idea! I knew it must be something like that. Just couldn't quite put my finger on it.

_________________
"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."