First Build TL-1TH - Stuffed the Binding already

[CantGuitar]

Hi all,

First Build -a thinline Tele , did a dry fit - was all going pretty well as far as i could tell.

Then tried to stain the top and this happened - should see picture somewhere.

Stain seeped into cracks in the binding from behind. Have already scraped the binding best i can. Is this un-savable? Any suggestions?

[ozzbike]

Hi all,

First Build -a thinline Tele , did a dry fit - was all going pretty well as far as i could tell.

Then tried to stain the top and this happened - should see picture somewhere.

Stain seeped into cracks in the binding from behind. Have already scraped the binding best i can. Is this un-savable? Any suggestions?

Sheesh mate I feel your pain. I believe that binding is the devil. I am afraid that as those cracks appear pretty deep, and nothing you can do to save this stuff. I would suggest considering sanding it off....rounding the edge over.....or try somehow to get the existing binding off and stick some new stuff on.

These guys have some stuff....not cheap though.

https://luthiersupplies.com.au/white...uitar-bindings

You are scaring me now....I am building a Thinline with a Bigsby and I am about to start stain tomorrow......hmmm....maybe some steel wool on the binding to smooth it a little.....or even some clear poly first I think.

Good luck with yours.

[Bugeye29]

I feel your pain i had the same happen to my HB4 build, i didnt find anything to fix it so i will live with the marks. I tried scraping / sanding / different solvents / steel wool the stains did reduce slightly.

Best of luck to get it sorted.

[McCreed]

I agree those cracks do appear to be quite deep. I've only done one kit build with binding and I had very minimal issue with the stain seeping past the masking. Maybe I was just lucky as mine cleaned up nicely with just scraping.

One of our fellow members (Simon B) has had to paint binding white to fix it before, so maybe he'll jump in here and offer good advice. He's a pretty clever lad!

[Sonic Mountain]

A few people have had good success painting the binding, that's certainly an option.

[CantGuitar]

A few people have had good success painting the binding, that's certainly an option.

Seems hard to paint and might be beyond me - do you mind linking a build which shows the painting of binding? - i couldn't find.
Sigh... i think i can live with it... i know its my first build but i just didn't see this coming....

[CantGuitar]

I feel your pain i had the same happen to my HB4 build, i didnt find anything to fix it so i will live with the marks. I tried scraping / sanding / different solvents / steel wool the stains did reduce slightly.

Best of luck to get it sorted.

Thanks - just read your build. Despite you having the same issue yours looks great. I think i can live with it too, hopefully the rest of build goes well.

[Trevor Davies]

Hi, just for reference, is it a particular type of stain (water, alcohol, oil-based) that bleeds a lot into the binding?

[wazkelly]

Not a fan of binding due to what has happened here.
Only done 2 builds with binding and both worked out OK but it took a lot of prepping. It had to be highly polished and super fine grit wet & dry paper followed by 0000 steel wool were used. Others had suggested using a liquid latex product to paint over binding before doing stain to provide a barrier to repel stain.
Instead I found the highest grade painters masking tape and carefully applied, cut & trimmed to fit, heald my breath, crossed fingers and successfully applied several stain coats without drama. Sheer luck I guess. Maybe using water based ink stains helped to some degree.

Bit late to try again and if left as is you have already begun the relicing process that naturally occurs over time. Personally I would leave it alone and focus more on how it feels and sounds, somethings unaffected by the binding.

Cheers Waz

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[CantGuitar]

For reference this was Feast Watson Black Japan. But i don't know if it has anything to do with it. Most of the rest of it is absolutely fine. Just this area which seems to have some large cracks in the binding (which were obviously not visible before staining)

I am just gonna push on - and focus on playability.

So do i just apply clear over the binding? Is that the norm?