F-Style Peghead Binding & Abalone Inlay.

[@ThePipeous]

I will always find great satisfaction watching you do that inlay work.

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Thanks Barry, I'm really happy that I will be able to use it on the F-style and the Octave mandolin..

[@NotJustSawdust]

It's Saturday morning here on the lonesome hill in central Portugal as a watch the latest videos I hadn't seen yet. After storm "Emma" passed we now are under attack by storm "Felix" filling up the lake and is hitting hard on the half-burned trees that survived the big forest fires from last summer. It means there's wood to collect (cork oak that is protected so normally isn't available so much) and when the rains are over I probably will... It's 9 AM, the kettle is on the stove, third coffee will be ready soon, wood burner gives a nice warmth and the internet connection is back up to a speed which allows me to watch these awesome, educational videos. It's a nice way to spend the early saturday morning. Thanks Tomy!

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Gerrit, you are a talented writer! So much that I feel like I want to go harvest some cork Oak with you.. hope you’ll be bringing along your trusty sidekick ( camera) so we can be there with you... really happy I could be part of your morning ritual. Now is morning here, I’m going to put the coffee maker on! Thanks for watching...

[@ragtie6177]

I do so look forward to your video releases. To watch you work is like taking lessons.

[@billfromelma]

Hey Tom, truly beautiful . Says alot about the quality and integrity of your work, when thar little piece broke out you didn't repair the spot but replaced the whole piece .Awesome work !

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Yes, I wouldn’t have it any other way, it had to be replaced.. Thanks for watching!

[@Road_Rash]

Awesome! I'm about to start learning how to do inlay work so I can fancy up my mandolins...I hope to progress enough to the point that I can build at least 2 mandolins, I want to build at least one A body & 1 F body...if I enjoy the work, I may build some more & possibly experiment with designing my own body style just to have something unique that nobody else has...I'm learning a lot watching you & others...can't wait to get started! Thanks for the helpful & inspiring videos!

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Thanks for the feedback, enjoy the journey 👍

[@jipes]

Wonderful job, I appreciate that you also show when things go wrong with the binding

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Yes, well this kind of stuff happens in every shop... mine included. Thanks for watching:)

[@MauriceBlok]

Feeling privileged sitting there right by your side, watching over your shoulder :-)

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Love your work Maurice, to hear this from you means a lot! Really happy you’re enjoying the video...

[@LilSirAxolotl]

I loved this... So many curls gently moved into all the right places What else can you do with the headstock and then match the body vice-versa? It reminds me of Prince though... Rest his soul Was he the only one who "spiralled" into madness? Or was Les Claypool as well? With his Carl Thompson Walnut bass? How many were before them? Unfortunately my short scale Danelectro Bass copy does not have a wavey scratch plate... I'd show you a hybrid if I could I don't think my D'Angelico's count They're Art Deco

[@marcosrobertsonofficial]

Great job Tomy! it looks so nice

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Marcos Robertson Thank you Marcos!

[@walterrider9600]

thank you Tomy . great idea on highlighting the scratch with chalk .

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Thanks Walter! I got the idea after playing with my 2 year old on his chalkboard . Works really good!!

[@walterrider9600]

lol hey thank him for me . ahh little ones .

[@waltersguitars3336]

Thanks Tony ! How did you get your ducco Cement black?

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

Wicked job on the inlays!

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Thanks Man!

[@davidsales3284]

Excellent can you tell me how you made the guide on the bottom of the router?

[@HovingtonInstruments]

It’s a piece of wood and it took lot of measurements and trial and error.

[@DavidLaFerney]

How does the wooden piece on the bottom of your router base work? At first look I was sure it was an edge guide, but in the close up it looks like it would keep the bit from cutting at all - especially in the tight inside curls. It looks to me like it could be for cutting the purfling recess after the binding recess has already been made in the body. But it's such a short view of it I can't be sure. I'm about to do my first real inlay on a Stewmac kit guitar and you (and other experts) sharing your secrets like this is unbelievably helpful. Thanks so much.

[@HovingtonInstruments]

David LaFerney hi David, thanks for watching! The wood piece is an edge guide. On this kind of peghead it works only on the outside perimeter, and where it meets at the neck , given that the fretboard and nut are not installed. To do the two scroll/curls sharp curves, I need to do these free hand. Basically the same way I do the inlay routing. The wood guide is hand made and cuts only one depth so depending on the width of the binding I have to decide which guide I’ll be using. Hope this was helpful, glad you are enjoying the content of my videos. Let me know how your inlay and purfling went.

[@DavidLaFerney]

@@HovingtonInstruments Thanks for the help - I will.

[@mihumus]

Fantastic job man!! Ideal for before going to the bed, enjoyed it.

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Thanks, Glad you enjoyed it... Have a good night!

[@PLINKER]

Does the acetone hold you binding together well when you dip it into hot ware for bending in tight quarters? and I did not quite catch how you used your dremel fixture to cut the bing channel in the very tight curves in your mandolin/ Could you give me a hint? I make banjos and guitars. No Mandolins.

[@HovingtonInstruments]

Hey, thanks for watching, Acetone works great if enough applied… it happens that the joint let’s go but you can always reapply acetone at that point. For the tight curves it’s done either free hand or with chisels. Only so much you can do with power tools. Hope this helps, Cheers, Tomy Hovington

[@PLINKER]

Thanks so much! Tom

[@timberdish]

Excellent work! Very inspiring, I must say. :-)

[@simpleone1989]

Hi Tom why did you boil the layered purfling strips? I assumed you applied acetone and glued them together.

[@HovingtonInstruments]

It softens them and that way you can give them the appropriate shape. Boiling does not help gluing the pieces together. Thanks Simon for watching

[@simpleone1989]

Tomy Hovington oh I see! Cool trick! Thanks!

[@rwe2156]

Do you give classes?

[@HovingtonInstruments]

I’m not giving any classes Robert, but I like to put the information out there so people can access it. Thanks for watching Robert..

[@ChrisMoewesBystrom]

I hope I'm not the only one who left from the seat when scraper pulled off that outer layer. I may not be able to watch anymore... my heart can't take it ;) ok. not really .

[@c21delta94]

Extraordinary luthier skills yet I just don’t understand why an all wood binding isn’t used plastic just makes me cringe.