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Hi everyone; I got my grooves cut and am ready to install the herringbone and binding. I have bent hardwood bindings before, no problem, but the herringbone is to be bent edgewise. Is there something special I need to know? Do I use my bender or should it be done by hand? If I use the bender, how do I keep the purfling up right. I mean, won't it tend to fall over? Any advise is welcome. Thanks
Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Soak it for 5 minutes in warm water, then take one side of your bending form and attach it temporarily to a piece of plywood...bend the herringbone around the form using spring clamps to hold it flat and in contact with the form...leave overnight...works great...below is a link to the OLF thread where I originally asked this question, and a photo of the way I went....



bending herringbone




Hope these help!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Good technique. if you have bender you can bend it in the machine also. I tape it to binding when I bend so it won't twist. I like simple and the above pic works. Before the bending machine days I used to heat it in HOT water then tape it to the guitar over night.
   Use what works
john hall
blues creek guitars

I don't prebend mine at all. I start gluing and taping just like binding, then as I get to the curves, I use a monocote iron to heat it dry and it bends right into its groove.

Al

I have a side bender but i bent my purflings on the hot pipe and it bent very easily.

Thanks Larry!

I'm going to use this technique for my next herringbone. The firs stuf I bent was tough to keep from twisting - this method looks like it will solve that problem.

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

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Sure thing Mark! I bought 2 extra strips when I did it and didn't even have to use it! Looking forward to seeing your guitar pix posted on the OLF!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

On my first guitar I bent just like Larry says above. But last week I bent four herringbone strips in my bender. Just taped them together, put them between the steel slats and bent just like binding. Very easy. I did spritz them pretty good first.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

If I'm going to use a rope purfling or similar it just goes in between the binding when I'm bending it.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thanks to all of you. I know a lot more about it now than yesterday. I feel confident that I won't mess it up. Thanks again.
Jeff