Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm not nearly as with experienced with mandolins as Hans, but here's how I've done a few headstocks (the pictures are from a 'build' thread I did on another forum a few years back). I'm not sure if its faster than binding the veneer off the neck, but on a f5 it sure is easier than binding after the headstock is done, which is a pain because of all the weird geometry. DAMHIK

First, trace the veneer shape minus binding width on your blank



Cut and clean up



Next, attach to unshaped headstock face



Bound with celluloid binding, acetone "binding goo" glue and lap joints. For F5 mandolins, and other headstocks with angled sides, you need to make the binding for the curved parts wider than the rest initially, or it will end up too thin after the headstock edges are flushed up. Wait until the swelling goes down before cutting, or the binding will shrink below the wood surface and you get a ridge.



Cutting the headstock shape, with a fixture that holds the neck’s fingeboard surface parallel to the saw table, which results in those angled headstock edges. Some tear out on the back of the headstock is inevitable , so its left extra thick to account for this.



Some clean up on the belt sander, with neck still held in the same fixture



Next, the back of the headstock is drum sanded to its final dimension, minus the thickness of the back veneer. A thin shim is attached to the top of its front during the sanding, which means the headstok will end up slightly tapered in thickness. After the transition from the headstock to the neck shaft is smoothed out, the back veneer is glued on, with lots of clamps and matching cauls.



After cleaning up as much as possible with the edge sander and various sanding drums in the drill press, there is a bit of hand work in the tight spots.



Finsihed headstock outline, hopefully with equal binding width all around



Time to add inlay etc



Finished headstock

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Very nice, Rian!
Thank you for sharing your techniques!
Dan

_________________
wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

I do it the easy way like John Arnold. Glue the binding up with tape just like on the body and run it through the thickness sander to get it flush. presto.

Thanks again for the wedge tip, Tim!
This also leaves substantial meat behind the nut.
Dan

_________________
wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

When I see you guys bind the mandolin headstock I can just say Wow !!!

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust