First off, I want to thank all the builders for the discussion that takes place here on Mandolincafe forum. I've been "lurking" here for years gathering information to help me in my Mando builds. There is a wealth of information. I'll try and add to the knowledge base in the future. THANK Y'ALL!
I'm currently working on F style mandos 6 & 7. Since Mando #2, I've bound the mandos using the 2 step process; w/bk or iv/bk thin purfling followed by the thicker ivoroid binding. I feel like I could get better miters if bound in one go. I was inspired by the Andrew Mowry mando binding article in the Spring 2013 American Lutherie and decided to try and bind 6 & 7 in one pass.
I purchased binding from Bill James at Axiom Inc and used a homemade laminator patterned after the Stew Mac laminator to create some strips. I've discovered that you need to be generous with the acetone to get a really good weld. I let the binding cure for 3-4 days and then started on the scroll area. In the tight curves, the thin iv/bk purling binding would de-laminate from the thicker ivoroid and/or wrinkle . I've switched to a hybrid one pass/two pass installation. I'm doing the scroll curves with two passes and using one pass in the less tight areas.
My questions; Have others had problems with this? Any methods to help prevent? Does the pre-laminated binding (iv/bk/iv) from Axion Inc perform the same way?
Thanks for any advice!
Bryan
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