Bending Herringbone Purfling
Source:Binding & Purfling
Bending Herringbone Purfling:
The desire to replicate that Martin D28 with beautiful herringbone purfling around the top and back plates is a passion that may luthiers have. It is also a very popular option for clients who wish to dress up their guitar just a bit by placing this decorative trim around the guitar edge.
Prepare the Bending Jig:
I prefer to pre-bend the herringbone purfling and have it completely ready to install rather than to simply soak it in hot water and apply it to the guitar at binding time and risk fracturing this fragile and not to mention expensive trim to a point where you will have to toss it, do a cleanup job and start with another strip (if you have one that is).
To make a Herringbone Bending Jig is a very simple procedure. First take your Guitar Top Template and trace the guitar outline on a 1/8″ thick piece of material. This can be an old guitar back plate if you desire or you can make a non-stick jig from plastic, such as acrylic or lexan.
You will need to trace a line about 3/16″ INSIDE this line as this line represents the very outermost edge of the guitar and our herringbone is about 3/16″ inside this line. Cut the outline very accurately and sand to your line. Now secure this portion of the template to a plywood base, such as 1/2″ cabinet plywood and set aside to let dry.
Ultimate Guitar Building Tip #1: A much easier option to the template cutout is to simply trace the guitar shape directly on to the plywood base. Now take 1″ brads and pound them at about 1/2″ intervals, about 3/16″ INSIDE the line.
Preparing the Herringbone:
Since the herringbone purfling is directional, you have to be sure to bend the two halves in mirror fashion and not just mindlessly slap the herringbone of the form and discover then when you are gluing.
Carefully measure the herringbone. Make sure it is long enough to go around the entire perimeter of the guitar (this can vary quite a bit from guitar shape to guitar shape). Now strike some registration lines, clearly marking the waist centerline. I have conveniently marked the waist centerline on your Guitar Side Template of the Ultimate Guitar Plans.
Prepare some very hot water in a trough. Dip one of the herringbone strips in this hot water for about 90 seconds. This will give just enough time for the the wood to become pliable and receptive to some bending.
Remove the herringbone from the water and quickly apply to the waist of the guitar, being sure to line up your registration line for the waist centerline.
Shove the purfling up against your form and hold it there with plastic push pins. Place a pin at roughly 1″ intervals and smoothly bend the herringbone around the for and hold it in place with the pins.
Note: Even with the hot water soak, you can expect the fragile herringbone to fracture in several place, but you should be able to handle these minor crack by placing push pins on close to the crack locations.
Set the template and herringbone aside and let dry for several days.
Tags: bending herringbone purfling, guitar trim, how to bend purfling, installing guitar purfling
