First Build TL-1TH - Stuffed the Binding already

[wazkelly]

Applying clear if that is your top coat makes sense.

Some people scrape binding after final coats to take it back to original and then polish up, which is what I did on the ES, my 2nd attempt with binding as first one has that aged yellowing appearance.


Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[wazkelly]

Crazy thought......how about using bleach on the cracks or maybe use a baking soda paste as that may not be as harsh to use?

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[Ricky]

Hi all
Just for future reference for those contemplating a build with binding.

This problem is not unique to guitars/luthiery. It is a known problem in fine cabinetry and furniture restoration.
The usual solution is to apply a couple of coats of thinned clear coat/lacquer/varnish to the binding prior to any stain. Doing this will seep into the cracks first and seal them (hence the couple of coats). Then scrape back on the surface and you can then stain (or do not scrape back before staining to avoid any surface colouration of the binding). The problem is avoiding any 'sealer' soaking in to the adjacent material that you DO want to stain later.
This technique is used not only on plastic binding but also wood purfling and sound hole rosettes.

I know this does not help the OP ........ I feel your pain also.

Cheers
Ricky

[McCreed]

Crazy thought......how about using bleach on the cracks or maybe use a baking soda paste as that may not be as harsh to use?

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

I mentioned this last time stained binding came up (just recently).
I haven’t tried it, nor anyone else that I’ve seen, so can’t say if it’s effective or damages the binding at all.
Might be worth testing on an inconspicuous area just to see.
I was thinking a cotton swab might be the best applicator.

If I ever do another build with binding, I think I’d do a thinned clear coat sealer like Ricky suggested.
Maybe I just got lucky the first time, or maybe my kit was older stock with different binding material. There certainly seems to have been a spate of binding/staining issues in the past six months or so.

[DarkMark]

I sealed the purfling on my GR-1SF before staining. Wasn’t perfect but the results were cleaner than on my ES-5V. Perhaps some of the cracks are so big I needed to give it a few more coats.

[robin]

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

Hey CG, although I can't help with your binding problems, I would just like to encourage you.

I have made more than a few flawed guitars in my time but for me appearance is the least important of my guitar attributes. Firstly are they a pleasure to play. If yes then your guitar is a success.

I now look at the flaws on my guitars with fond attachment and consider them as character traits. Don't get me wrong I still try to make them and well as I can, but part of making a hand made guitar is that they will not all be perfect, that's just how it is.

Don't beat yourself up and get discouraged, I am sure you will end up with a guitar that you will be proud of. And of course you have learned something new and will be able to use that knowledge on your next build.

Oh yes, there will be a next one.

Cheers
rob

[XP Rider]

That's bad news, CantGuitar. I masked the binding on my ST with pinstriping tape from an autoparts store, and came out alright. But I don't think I was dealing with the cracks as you are. Good luck with the rest of the build.