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KIT TIP: Router base compensation
Due to the radius on the back of the guitar, there is now
a rather steep 5° arch, where the sides make contact with
the back . This presents a challenge when routing the back
binding .
It is very important that the binding channels remain square
with the sides of the guitar, so resting a standard router base
on your sloped guitar back will produce channels that won’t
fit the bindings correctly .
To solve this we recommend using our TrueChannel bind-
ing router jig . It is the easiest way to get a perfect vertical
binding channel . The router base is held perfectly vertical
while making the cut, and a small plastic “shoe” rides along
the top of the guitar that won’t be effected by the 5° arch .
However, if you prefer to not use the TrueChannel binding
router jig you can accomplish the same thing with your
router, a 5° wedge the same size as your router baseplate
and some patience (illustrated) .
Double stick tape the 5° wedge to the bottom of your router
base . You’ll use this wedge for routing from the neck block
area all the way to the last brace in the lower bout . Once you
get to the last brace, remove the wedge, read just the height
of the bit, and finish the cut to the center of the tailblock
before stopping again . This will be repeated on the opposite
side of the body .
As you make your cut you’ll need to swing the base of the
router “out” so the wedge is perpendicular to the cut as
you reach the upper bout, then swing it “in” as you near the
waist, and swing out again as you approach the last brace .
This takes some practice . With the router unplugged, prac-
tice with the wedge and try to keep the router bit square to
the sides . It’s virtually impossible to get it perfectly square
everywhere at all times, but with care and a little practice
this method will also give you excellent results .
The first pass is for the interior strips and is made with the
appropriate bearing on the cutter bit . The router bit should
be set to cut a shallow ledge and a width to accommodate
both the interior strip and the outside ivoroid binding . Make
practice cuts on scrap wood, check the fit of the trim strips
before routing the actual channels . Once starting the routing
on the guitar body, check the fit before going very far to be
sure both the depth and the width are correct .
The second pass is for cutting the recess for the outside
ivoroid binding . For a traditional appearance, rout this slot
no taller that 3/16" . Again test this cut on a piece of scrap
wood, preferably the same piece where you adjusted the first
cut . When the cut is adjusted, dry fit both pieces of binding
in the stepped slot to be sure they will both fit . The outside
strip of binding will extend slightly above the level of the
top to be scraped flush when the glue dries .
After routing the top and back, use a file to smooth out any
irregularities in the routed channels, especially around the
back of the body .
5° wedge
between
router base
and back
of guitar
Guitar
body
Interior strip: Herringbone trim
Outside strip: 3/16" tall for
ivoroid binding
Outside strip: 7/32" tall for
ivoroid binding
Interior strip: ivoroid/black
Soundboard
Kerfed lining
Guitar side
Kerfed lining
Guitar back
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