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I want to make purfling for the soundboard that has a center strip of Brazilian Cherry about 75 mil wide with a strip of black on either side. I plan to resaw the Brazilian Cherry and sand to the correct thickness, glue a sheet of 10 mil fiber board (from LMII) on each side, then cut 100 mil strips from that.

Is there are better approach? Any Tips?

Thanks,

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EddieLee

That's the way i do it. I don't use fiberboard though. I use contrasting veneer.

Al

Gluing them all together is fine for a back strip etc. but they will be much harder to bend for top purfling.
I usually glue marquetries (in your case the cherry) one side only to the bordering veneer (black fiber) this will help hold all together.
Cut separate strips for the other side and assemble on the guitar.

Thanks, Al I did find any black veneer large enough for the job. Where do you get yours?

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EddieLee

EddieLee,
You may want to have a look at this thread:

http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=42804

This is how I cut mine for my parlor which has 17 layer Maple/Walnut/Maple... etc... perfling and rosette. Because there were so many strips I had to be very accurate. I got all the strips within .002" tolerances. The first part of that thread is the scraper jig I used to get the tolerances so tight. If you scroll down the page I also posted some pictures of the mini table saw I made for my Dremel to cut the strips. It worked really well.

If you have not seen it, here is the link to pictures of the finished guitar.

http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=43368

As for the black perfling, I have been looking into it and I think the best way to do them is using Maple with alcohol black dye. I plan on cutting the strips first and then soaking in the dye and then scrape them to thickness. I think they will have to soak for a few hours to absorb the dye deep enough. I have not tried it yet so I don't really know how well the Maple will take up the dye. If that doesn't work then I am planning on using Spruce.

I have a whole bundle of the fiber stuff... I wouldn't use it after I got it because it pretty much sucks. The test strips I did I didn't like the way it fuzzed up when scraping or sanding. I may use it one day on something I don't care too much about but for something really nice.... I'll make my own.

Hope this helps,
Bob

Thanks Bob. I did see both treads but some how did not connect the 2. I may have to look in to your little table saw.

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EddieLee