Faux binding a Les Paul...

Longtallronnie · September 2013

So I'm planning on stripping the back and sides of my LP studio to reveal the maple/hog join but I'd like to go further and take a little off the top as well to make it really stand out. I'm not sure of the best approach though to get a nice clean line.

I'm using acetone for the back and sides so I could...

Mask off the top leaving 1-2mm round the edge and continue with the acetone

Or

Carefully scribe round the top with a scalpel then scrape away

Or

Sand round the top to remove the finish at the edge

I had a quick scrape with a knife in the pickup cavity and I'm not convinced I'd get the right result this way. I'm not keen on the idea of sanding as I don't wont to risk taking the corner off. That leaves the acetone but could it bleed under the masking? I could use proper pinstripe tape but would this react with the finish?

I'll probably try some ideas on the back first before committing.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome!

ChrisMusic · September 2013

Longtallronnie said: ...That leaves the acetone but could it bleed under the masking? I could use proper pinstripe tape but would this react with the finish? I'll probably try some ideas on the back first before committing.

I don't know, but I would have thought the acetone route would leave things with a poor edge, with a mechanical means giving much crisper finish and no softened paint. Just thinking, so I'm not sure on that. Definitely test, test and test again before committing though - that I have learned through experience.

If you haven't seen it yet take a look at this thread - http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/2465/dealing-with-binding-on-a-refinsh

good luck, that's a nice looking guitar, should be good when it's done, keep us posted

stickyfiddle · September 2013

ooh, cheapie blacktop

No idea how to do it but I look fwd to pictures!

Longtallronnie · September 2013

Each method has its risks I guess.

chrisj1602 · September 2013

I'd check out the My Les Paul forum, i've seen this done on there.

ICBM · September 2013

I think I would go with sanding - you really don't need to go very far past the edge, so you aren't going to make it very rounded. Have a look at a PRS.

ArchtopDave · September 2013

I would also guess that sanding is the way to go.

I know this is on fresh wood, but I have faux binding on the Lester that I made for myself (I didn't do the nitro spraying), but here's the sequence that was used.

Bare wood.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dJXyjrlysYU/UjdJncwZXpI/AAAAAAAAA94/rdUeIjbNhhw/s800/DSC_0953.JPG

ArchtopDave · September 2013

First sprayed with clear Nitro.https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DcxE0GsJkIo/UjdJce2BUrI/AAAAAAAAA94/z9paWVLw7Z8/s800/Bailey-dave-spray-job-0002.jpg

ArchtopDave · September 2013

Tape applied and Top Coloured.https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M6L3AluFAJg/UjdEQCq5SGI/AAAAAAAAA8c/ChfYRpb8qIk/s800/Bailey-dave-spray-job-0003.jpg

ArchtopDave · September 2013

Initial colour of the maple once the Tape was removedhttps://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8_PQiawV5F4/UjdEY1tZdQI/AAAAAAAAA8s/SQuTpzaRLwg/s800/Bailey-dave-colour-test-200011.jpg

ArchtopDave · September 2013

I don't like the wood to be too "white", so the guitar was sprayed with a very dilute bit of amberhttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Bi_j5CzYOX4/UjdEZLmedrI/AAAAAAAAA8w/AnGoCQ5Cpoo/s800/Dave-fletcher-colour-test-30006.jpg

ArchtopDave · September 2013

Then final layers of clear Nitro sprayed, followed by a couple of months of rest before polishing.

Final result.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kQccxI_u4iM/UjdEdo4Q9OI/AAAAAAAAA84/uMPqrtRK9NI/s800/byo-298-9.jpg

ICBM · September 2013

When you see that, you wonder why anyone bothers with real binding. The "faux" looks miles better, as well as being a much simpler process.

I really liked it when it was super bright and white, too. Beautiful work whichever you prefer!

Longtallronnie · September 2013

Can't view photos atm so will look when I get back but sounds interesting so thanks for sharing.

Longtallronnie · September 2013

That looks fantastic @ArchtopDave and is exactly the effect I'm after.

The trick will be sanding an even line all the way round, I could knock up some kind of stepped sanding block maybe? Whatever I do will be practiced on the back first so hopefully I'll find a method that suits.

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Faux binding a Les Paul...

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