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I have a dwindling stock of 1/4” wide by .020” thick purfling, which I think I (sadly) bought from LMI. I use it, maybe combined with black or white), to make side purfling on bindings, and then after gluing to the binding edge, plane and scrape down flush. My gluing jig (UHMW pieces clamped on MDF covered with packing tape) works best when I have the bottom edge of the purflings I’m trying to glue flush on the MDF surface as a reference.

I’ve tried to use sheet veneer but so far have struggled getting a straight edge cut, despite several different methods.

So far no luck with the usual online sources. StewMac and Allied don’t have it. Other sources have only much narrower pieces which are not even wide enough to cover the binding edge.

Would appreciate any links. Thx. Jon

I struggled getting straight cuts until I got a self-healing cutting mat, and glued sandpaper grit-down on an aluminum striaght edge for a guide. Not perfect, but a big improvement. Cut with a sharp x-acto blade. The sandpaper griips the veneer and minimizes tearout. YMMV.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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Cutting venneer sheet, straight cuts - this may help
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=52216&p=687019&hilit=+viewtopic.php%3Ff%3D10117%26t%3D19132#p687019
Link to original jig in my post.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

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I use my table saw to cut strips of veneer. I use a very narrow slitting blade (a Stewmac fret slotting blade to be exact) with a 1/4" piece of soft maple as a zero clearance guide which is affixed to the table with masking tape. Before taking it to the table saw I use a straight edge and scalpel to create a straight edge to ride against the fence. I also hold a block of scrap wood with my left hand which I use to keep the veneer flat (I didn't use the block once and wound up with two stitches on my middle finger) and slowly push the veneer with my right hand. Any fuzz from the cutting action can be removed with a quick swipe of 400 grit paper

As has been mentioned before, https://www.dyed-veneer.com/ ("B and B Rare Woods") has colored veneer.

Using the search function, and scrolling through links, I couldn't find wood veneer at http://www.mopsupplies.com. David, can you point me to the page? They're a great supplier for shell, so I'd like to see what wood veneer they have.

A Straightforward Method of Cutting Strips

I feel like I've cut miles of veneer strips over the years. It's not all that fun for me, but it's not difficult. I just clamp a long straightedge over the veneer on a sacrificial piece of smooth wood using spring clamps, and cut with a Stanley-style utility knife, using multiple light cuts. I use a new, sharp blade and switch it out when it feels a little dull. If the veneer is very split-prone, or I'm cutting a thin remnant, I tape it down with masking tape and cut the veneer through the tape. The tape needs to be peeled off slowly to avoid more splits.

In recent years I have given up on Exacto brand blades and use utility knife blades when a larger blade is needed. When a smaller blade is needed I use disposable scalpel blades (which I learned about on the OLF), which cost about 10 cents each in packages of 100.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

Following up on my own post. Gurian has wood and veneer fiber strips in several widths and colors, and I think was one of LMI suppliers.

I may have some black/blue/black and black/green/black .20/.20/.20 left if you’re interested?


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If you are talking about the colored fiber veneer like LMII had, 6x36x.01 or .02, RCTonewood.com has those for making your own bindings with colored edges. I cut the strips for the purfling edges with a razor knife against a 36" ruler with a cork type backing. The .02 takes a couple passes or finish with sizzors.

A veneer saw is only tool I could get to successfully cut strips. 1/8" all day. pictures posted a year ago here