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I want to put maple binding on a strat style body but am not overly confident about bending around the horns without snapping the strip. Has anyone here successfully done this and should I be using water or not?

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You should be able to bend maple that tight. It won't be easy however. With maple you will need to have heat, steam and some support,like a bending iron. I added a small dia. pipe to the end of my elec. bending iron to bend maple binding for the scroll of an F style mandolin. With maple you don't want to soak it. Less water is better but you do need some for steam. Fairly high heat is best,just not so hot that it burns or scorches the wood.

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Thanks for that, Matt.
I'll give that a try.

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I've got a mind like a steel......whatsername!!?

I recommend a very thin binding.
In both directions.
My latest biding sizes are something like 3/16" x 1/16"(+).
Way easier to bend, and looks different from what most are doing.
Practice a bit first with test pieces.
A

UPDATE: Thinned them down to 0.065". Managed horns OK but kept snapping at the tight radius on the 90 degree part where the cutaway meets the heel pocket. Ivory ABS has been ordered!!! I'll reserve the wooden bindings for acoustics.
Thanks for the tips anyway, guys...It was worth a try.

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I've got a mind like a steel......whatsername!!?

Maple bends easier without a lot of water. A light spritzing from a spray bottle or wipe from a sponge is all it takes. Some woods need a little soaking.

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