Routing for guitar binding: fixing a mistake!

OUCH! Luthier Brock Poling was routing for binding on this custom guitar when the router grabbed it and threw it against the wall! Suddenly this build became a repair, and he talks with Dan Erlewine about how to fix it.
Japanese Super Fine-Cut Saw
www.stewmac.com/item/3617
Two Cherries Wood Chisels, set of five
www.stewmac.com/item/1627
Luthier's Digital Caliper
www.stewmac.com/item/0447
Japanese Fret Saw
www.stewmac.com/item/5755
StewMac Fish Glue
www.stewmac.com/item/0702
Rubber Clamping Bands
www.stewmac.com/item/1256
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[@braderrick]

We definitely need a Part 2 episode

[@basvredeling]

We really need to see the finished fix, folks!

[@andrewdimartino7426]

It would have been cool to see, but im pretty sure they just ran that section across a router with a flush cut bit and put a little stain on, so we probably didn't miss much.

[@stratocactus]

Would be safer to trim it with a chisel and finish with sand paper. Quicker too.

[@andrewdimartino7426]

Julien Sorosac You're right, that's probably what they did. I thought the portion sticking out was thicker but after looking at it again its smaller and a chisel would take that down quick and safe. I was mainly thinking that whatever they did it was something fast so router just popped into my head first as a fast way but like you said that's not the best way.

[@PrinceWesterburg]

I bet that, lIke his gran's table, by the next day Stew had forgotten what it was, sawed it in half and put it on the log burner. Lol

[@klijnsmitguitars2979]

It can never split open if you route down grain, sometimes that means routing from 2 sides (flipping the body over).

[@raceface_m2579]

Legend has it, he left it as is and put the clear finish on it.

[@Mekratrig]

Aww. We don’t get to see the finished product?

[@Mojokiss]

This gentleman inspired me to fix my own instruments and now i'm helping my friends out here and there. I love discovering that everything just takes knowledge and practice and a few tools and the desire to do it

[@knedy]

I heard a great saying once "The more you practice, the more luck you will have" and that's true for everything even building guitars.

[@UmVtCg]

That's because good luck is a choice

[@michaelpacinus242]

@@UmVtCg no

[@zekragash4294]

The wind favors the abliest sailors.

[@jdy5556]

I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one who sends guitars flying across the shop. Sanders, saws, routers, buffing wheels all work really well as launching aids....

[@dale8809]

I never get sick of watching Dan work.

[@AllTheTimeWasted]

So much knowledge in those two hands. And the willingness to share it!

[@rifosi]

Dan is definitely one of my heroes. Great job!

[@scottman-cl4jm]

Very nice repair Dan you are a Master, The Japanese have a philosophy that if you make a mistake in something your building & it needs to be repaired instead of trying to hide the repair try to make the repair a clean as possible and leave it alone. This shows character & tells a story of what happened to the object being built and keeps the story of said object going to whom ever ends up with it in the future.. Thanks Stew Mac..

[@OpenDGuitar]

Similar happened to me on a mahogany acoustic. But I used a piece of scrap from the original wood set, and a pocket knife. Was able to whittle a sliver that blended grain invisibly! I’ve interviewed many luthiers of high end guitars - a lot more saw dust and superglue patches that the public knows. Genius craftsmanship

[@stevenleek1254]

Everything Dan Does is so precise, and quick.

[@michaelpacinus242]

Just ask his wife

[@rickeydenler2385]

Out of all the guitar Luther's on KZbin it's obvious you are a true Master at your craft

[@j.d.thompson3505]

These videos are priceless. Dan is phenomenal.

[@ztwilkerson]

I think this may be one of my favorite of your videos. Hanging in the shop with Dan would be the coolest.

[@cyanidejunkie]

Finished product, please.

[@deanmacka4975]

I don't know why , but I love watching Dan work . Great stuff mate 👍

[@glennnortonjr2455]

I just love watching him repair anything. And you know he can do it.

[@JEdwards713]

I'm now addicted to these videos! The old repair dude is so calming and cool.

[@Mr.Safety.]

I love that guys presence with dan, hes funny and adds a funny presence to the episode

[@xplosiv3z799]

I suggest building a flying V shaped guitar if you like sending them airborn. Better aerodynamics. Jokes aside tho, wonderful Job repairing that guitar

[@clayz1]

I’ve sent a dial indicator airborne before. It hit a clock across the room breaking the glass. Bulls eye.

[@maxx0xxam]

How do you know? “Wonderful job” of not showing us the repair.

[@tMatt5M]

This is awesome! I currently have the same problem on an acoustic top. I took a less than intelligent path around the guitar when I was trimming the top with a router.

[@zekragash4294]

I know what you did!

[@Sungodv]

Dan is the man...a national treasure.

[@KBorham]

Fastest 6 minutes ever. This was awesome, with many applications!

[@thomastommy1192]

Dan always does amazing awesome work. I would love to hang out and watch him work in the shop Dannever fails to amaze me. Thank for sharing another great video. I hope you guys have a Blessed Week.

[@micahwinters7021]

Would love to see this finished

[@york9x19]

Man, I really wish I could spend some time in your shop. Just learning all these great things from great people

[@thetreblerebel]

This stuff inspires me to build guitars. It gives me confidence to try it

[@Kevin-nr9lj]

I could watch Dan work all day :)

[@oqsy]

Kevin I agree. He needs a gopro helmet stream in his shop so we can watch from his perspective!

[@Ibaneddie76]

Cool guitar and video but let's see the finished repair, I bet it came out really nice! Fix the binding around that lower horn and that will be a stunning single cut.

[@corndog2835]

thats the whole video? how about seeing the finished repair?

[@YouWorryMe]

The great and powerful StewMac!

[@oqsy]

I watch stewmac videos over and over. I love it.

[@andrewdimartino7426]

Master craftsman make mistakes just like the rest of us do, they're just way better at hiding them. Always admired that old saying, this is a great example why.

[@alphagt62]

My father once told me, pertaining to carpenter work, “everyone makes mistakes, what matters is how quickly you recover from it.”.

[@greatnortherntroll6841]

It would have been nice to see the finished repair. Maybe we can see the finished guitar as well?

[@tommynoble3428]

Dan is an absolute legend. A LEGEND.

[@emilranfors4540]

I like that guy. He realy cares about hes work. Thats nice to see.

[@dwightbrown2808]

I'm not a guitar guy, I play violin and viola. But... I love these videos, Dan is amazing!

[@andriealinsangao613]

5:07: Dan: "Well, you're damn right, I'm not gonna get it out!" Looks like Dan cursed for the 1st time in a video, folks!

[@bishlap]

great channel, Dan makes it look so easy - love the vids and I'm not even a player.

[@izzynutz2000]

Sometimes the simplest fixes are the best great video guys

[@johnford7847]

All such repairs should be so easy!

[@mouija1450]

When you've got a master luthier on hand with the skill and experience of Dan Erlewine, you'd be a fool not to at least consult with him when you run into a problem making your own guitar. Great video, and I hope to see the finished result!

[@PBTophie]

"I think you know that Brock could do this on his own." "Yeah, well I just like to come hang out with you." I don't know if they were looking for material for a video, and so had Brock bring this guitar to Dan, or if Brock literally sought out Dan for this repair, but that's a great back and forth either way.

[@nickes6168]

Really cool videos but man, this is the 3rd or 4th video I've watched with is no end. No conclusions to projects. A beginning and a middle but no end. Would love to subscribe and keep coming back but this alone is driving me nuts.

[@michaelbeary]

The ends weren't flush at all, which probably explains the shortened video. My guess is he didn't cut the bottom totally flat in the channel. That's what happens when you have a customer over your shoulder and you're not as relaxed IMO.

[@mikeenachos]

We need part 2 of this pls.

[@fewhite5126]

That is a ballsy fix! Very nice.

[@3rdshiftpaulf178]

I love when Dan puts on the riot gear.

[@midres3965]

Nice looking guitar!

[@SaverGC3]

"Favorite" words from the luthier, "Give me a hammer!". [Giggles]

[@mprater86]

Man, that shop is like a dream :D

[@MMYLDZ]

I always love me some fine craftsmanship

[@gp205]

Love your video series Dan, keep up the good work!

[@jamesstrawn6087]

Another solution would be to inlet a purposeful feature over the mark. This could be sandable wood or even brass or silver. It could be of a style correlative with some other feature already present or one could repeat it twice more or so.

[@OdinHammersmith]

Dan, you're awesome. I wish I could do that. If I tried to do that I'm sure I'd cut off a finger. Love the channel. : )

[@ruassmarkt]

I found a totally busted up Ibanez RG in music school one day. Hardware missing and the headplate had a huge crack in it, somebody must have dropped it against a wall or something. Tried to fix it myself, totally forgot to remove the truss rod tho. Oh well. Plays good, but the crack is really there

[@MPLSprintmaking]

I wanna see that thing finished!

[@sagolpooh]

Finished project, PLEASE..

[@millmoormichael6630]

Want Stew Mac to be my grandpa.. Luthiery just extra bonus

[@marcelofilipchuk5321]

What about the finished guitar? It have been nice to show the final result

[@daniellarsson8100]

Why not use the same jig that threw the guitar across the room to fix the damage? There are router bits that can do it. Run the guitar along a fence and route a channel flush with the binding, straight and with square corner.

[@x6x745]

Very nice invisible fix, thanks a lot...

[@tomswift6198]

Gosh, I don't know, think you have the bandsaw guard set high enough? I don't think you could lose more than two fingers with it at that height. A cutter in my vertical mill grabbed my index finger just last week, and I was lucky enough to only lose half a fingernail. It's been more than forty years since my tools last bit me, but they're always ready for it, even when I'm not. When it happens it happens fast, and it can be tough to keep all that blood off the work.

[@Ronsonic]

The guy who built that is standing there and didn't bring an off-cut from the body to do the fix with?

[@mcqueen7584]

Well now I WANT to see it finished, I'm re finishing a mahaghony body that has a hideous cheap red translucent finish and the model is a Fender Modern Player Jaguar but it looks like a Jazzmaster, I was thinking about doing fender copper but the grain is too nice to hide, any ideas are welcome

[@davelightman]

Would have loved to have seen the full story with that repair, folks.

[@altamiradorable]

Dan is my hero !

[@joybertt9660]

Were you primarily a gutair builder or start off as a carpenter?

[@tritontr21]

Dan is a treasure.

[@kyleallen1835]

Wow that was great, hammered it lol

[@stewmac]

Thanks for watching Kyle! We're glad you enjoyed the video!

[@onpsxmember]

Hey StewMacians, I'm looking for a certain repair video. I can't remember the main repair reason, but there was a messed up back plate screw hole that was too close to the cavity's edge (protruding half way in the cavity). It was taped off and filled with a glue-dust mix or epoxy to clean up this invisible spot. Now I got exactly that repair and I'd love to rewatch that video. Can anybody remember it?

[@stewmac]

I'm sorry, I cannot seem to find the repair video in our archives that you're referring to. Perhaps the video you're thinking of was posted by another KZbin channel demonstrating instrument repairs. I'm sorry we could not be more helpful.

[@onpsxmember]

Thx for checking your archives. I guess I watch too many guitar repair videos. You're probably right.

[@GrupoYehuda]

you are the best Luthier around the world

[@TheVergile]

you don't seem to know many luthiers...

[@Sungodv]

Dan Erlewine, a national treasure

[@rupertradar7424]

And here's the amazing finished fix.. On the count of three. One.... Two....

[@angelodesalvi8999]

great as always

[@MattCrump4U]

Looking through the comments.. Is there a part 2 yet???? :-)

[@JusticeConstantine]

Hammer time.

[@roberthurless4615]

Fish glue, is that what you use to glue fish together?

[@michaeljohnson7892]

Great job !!!

[@JNathanielBerke]

Some folks like Bob Ross and there's nothing wrong with that, but for me Dan is the man

[@scottdore132]

so sad I didn't get to see the finished product....

[@plpoots]

I would have thought adding another channel of binding would have been easier and added a little bit of flare too.

[@buckbuck9225]

You know thats whats lacking in these fantastic vids... humor

[@FordFracture]

WHAT THE HECK NOTHING LIKE LEAVING US HANGING ! HOW DID IT TURN OUT ?

[@macaholic100]

Could you do a blend on a burn through of a heratige cherry finish in nitro?

[@mrp123123123]

I would have liked a little demonstration how to avoid the router mishap. Glad that flying guitar body didn't injure anyone.

[@stewmac]

When routing binding (regardless of the specific binding jig you are using) you always want to roll from the high points to the low points. So, from the peak of the upper bout into the waist, from the peak of the upper bout toward the top of the guitar, the lower bout to the waist, the lower bout to the heel, etc. Cutaways are a little tricky -- especially right at the tip of the horn on a tight radius shape like an LP. When I was routing the tip I just got it a bit too far over the edge and an instant later the guitar was on the floor across the shop. (YIKES). It was mostly ok. I had to add a thicker wood purfling (which you can see in the video) but it was missing a hunk of mahogany. I searched for it thinking I might be able to fit it back into place, but it was gone. :( I've since learned to use this jig with better results, but this was the first time I tried this method of cutting bindings with the router at a fixed height from the table top. I usually use our True Channel system, or a Fleishman/Williams setup where the router floats on top of the body, but I wanted a consistent amount of wood showing from the back of the guitar.

[@michaelwalker9842]

how is no one talking about dan sawing up his great grandmothers table to build guitars 😂😂😂😂

[@christopherlyerly4631]

It would have been nice to see the finished product...

[@jipes]

Really sad that you don't show the final result :o(

[@solarismoon3046]

An update would be nice! Since you guys did what I've seen a hundred shade tree luthiers have already done instead of a miracle fix that I was half expecting. I could've done that without thinking! I would've used SAW DUST for the fix as he did before. I don't know what the HELL he was thinking using COCOBOLO dust, but mahogany saw dust would've been preferrable. That would've matched a lot better and would've been easier to hide under any clear, or transluscent finish.

[@DelTangBrav]

You're right but if he'd wanted the same dust as the wood the guitar was actually made of he could have used an off-cut, there must have been some if he'd made it himself. The same goes for the bit of wood that was eventually used.

[@stewmac]

Remember my plan was initially to use an opaque finish, but then changed my mind. :)

[@FloridaManMatty]

Can we get a follow up on this one? Pretty please??

[@williammurphy6708]

Going to show the "afterwards"?

[@OfficialKevinFox]

Wish we could have seen it after it was leveled and finished 😭

[@robertnewell5057]

finished product yet?

[@emilranfors4540]

Whats up with not showing the end result?

[@themagnet61]

Dan, you cracked me up when you went for your hammer...

[@glennnewton5100]

surely he had some scraps of the actual body wood if its his own build? seems odd to glue in whatever was laying around

[@pedalboardgeorge]

What did it come out like???