Official Luthiers Forum!

I have some questions about using radial purfs. I love the look and would like to use them on my next build, but haven't ever used them before.

-can they be purchased....if so, where?

-how do you make them?

-what species of wood can they be made from?

-when installing, do you install with the binding, glued to the binding, or inserted after installing binding with a spacer?

-any special tips about using it for rosette purfling (because of the tighter bend)?

-how do you level them. I assume that scraping is out

Thanks for these and any other tips you think of! Beth

Any species of wood can be used for radial purfs. Something with distinctive and variegated color separation seems to be best in catching the eye. Use scrap or side cut-offs, thin to about .050" and then cut cross grain. The 'match sticks' that result can be easily fit in a prepared slot if you use a teflon spacer when binding and then subsequently installing the purfs. I particularly like to use burls. They have a lot of color separation and even though delicate to work this thin, usually have a lot of appeal. Sometimes I put a few scratch coats of shellac on the burl or even some thin CA to hold it together.

Here is a link to a thread from a few years ago that shows some detail....

viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=24534

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Peter

Thanks for the link, Peter.....that was a beautiful example. I'm jealous of the person who has that guitar!
What about thee question of leveling? I level bindings and purrs ala' Robbie O'Brien using a scraper except for the center of the body ends where I use a flat file. Can radials be done that way? Beth

Thanks Todd.....couldn't find specifics on how best to level it.

Is radial purfling just wood with the grain running sideways, so to speak?
Also could someone explain "snapping in" Ive seen the term used with shell inlay also.
Thanks

I'll have to try that it seem to me that it would leave gaps when it breaks.

So just to be clear, when the pieces are set into the channel the grain would be running perpendicular to the sides, correct? The more folks talk about radial purfling the clearer the picture gets for me. I don't post alot on this forum but I visit almost daily because of the amount of info I learn here. Thanks.

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Kyle

Where did you buy the teflon strip to use for making the channel ?

a link would be great if you have one....

Thanks,
Dennis