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I'm working on a florentine cutaway and I'm looking for methods to bind the point. I have done a florentine before but did not bind the point on that one. I know different folks have different ways to do this. Please share how you like to do it.
Thanks,
Steve

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I've tried a number of different ways but this is what I find to be the best way to get clean miters:

1) Route for top and back binding/purfling.

2) Chisel out the Florentine points. I first score with a gramil and then cut with a saw. Chisel out the waste and then true up the edge with a sanding block.

3) Bind the top and back.

4) Carefully chisel the "miter points" into the binding. Then fit the florentine side pieces in one piece at a time (4 pieces).

Thanks Toonces. I'm sure some people do the point first and then bind the back and top, but since you have tried a number of ways, and based on the work I have seen of yours, I trust your judgement...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I will add that it helps greatly to use a mallet for the chiseling process -- especially when cutting miters into woods like Ebony. A mallet helps direct a concentrated and precise force. Without a mallet, it is very hard to stop pushing on the chisel at the exact moment you need to. If you don't react quickly enough once the chisel is through the cut, then you can cause damage to your workpiece. I use a urethane mallet from a company called "Wood is Good" -- it is affordable and works really well.

I also do mine like Toonces.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Same here. If you happen to have a copy of the LMI product catalog that they used to sell, it has a step by step pictorial done by one of the masters, might have been Somogyi IIRC.

I've done it several ways too (with 12 guitars built, 10 have had Florentines) and the last one I did I did it the way Simon says and it has come out the best to date. The hardest part is making the final piece for the tip as there is a compound mitre on it. Wood glue is your friend when doing it this way as a bit of swelling of the woods is a good thing.

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Rod, Those are some nice miters...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com