Official Luthiers Forum!

For anyone who has done binding with an instrument with color. I can see that it would be very easy to tape off the edge side of the binding before doing color because the tape will agree with following a simple line. But how do you tape off the top edge of the binding before doing the top color? Any tips? Just real painstakingly slow and careful? Doesn't seem to me like it will be real easy to get a professional edge exactly following the binding on the guitar top.

Maybe I can tape off the binding channel and then actually install the binding after I apply the color, then resume additional lacquer coats..

Doesn't seem to me like it will be real easy to get a professional edge exactly following the binding on the guitar top.

Maybe I can tape off the binding channel and then actually install the binding after I apply the color, then resume additional lacquer coats..

If you think cleaning up binding is gonna be tough imagine trying not to mess up your shader coats while you glue and level the binding. Install and level your binding, then tape it off. Any overspray that gets on it just scrape off with a razor blade. It's not as hard as it may sound.

Use a thin strip of tape and go slow.

Haha That's a really really good point. Clearly I hadn't thought that one through. I'm building my 6th guitar to date. Done binding but never color and binding together. Yeah, I was thinking that I would perhaps just tape off the sides and then section off the width of the binding on a razor blade, with a couple layers of masking tape as a guide, and make some rounds around the guitar to clean the paint from the top of the binding.

Hey, Irving,
I have asked myself this question numerous times. I think the simple answer is that you scrape the thin edge of your binding to get the color coats off. In fact, you will most likely scrape some of the wide edge, too, because some of your color coat will probably sneak in under your tape here and there. In Robert Benedetto's DVD, he shows masking off his bound f-holes (masking the thin edge) and then carefully cutting the tape with a single edged razor blade all around where the binding meets the top. In my view, this would require considerable practice combined with steady hands and nerves of steel, but he makes it look easy. But in spite of all the meticulous masking he does (and he's a master, for sure) he still winds up doing some scraping, too. I think scraping is probably your answer on those thin edges. Better builders will probably chime in with better suggestions. And I'd welcome it if they do!

Patrick

Scraping is no big deal. You hold the razor between your fingers, and your fingers act as a fence. I tape everywhere it's easy to tape, and scrape where it's easier to scrape. Usually that means I tape the sides and scrape the top.

Once you start, you'll see just how easy it really is.

It's also very easy to 'limit' the size of a single edge razor with a few layers of scotch or masking tape. It's a very tiny 'stop', but enough to provide ample control of 'depth of cut'...