Binding
 

Hey All,

I'm repairing a vintage acoustic where the binding is relatively complete but is cracking, breaking and peeling. Is it worth trying to save or should I replace it? It's not a remotely valuable guitar so it's not that. Just wondering if it's worth the challenge.

Thanks
Matt

That depends on you. Is it worth it to you? Are you prepared to remove the binding using a router for instance? All for the sake of practice and the possibility to scrap the guitar if you make a mistake. Sounds like a nice challenge and if there's no commercial interest attached to it, give it a go.

Remember... Old celluloid binding... Quite Flammable...

It's cracked to pieces mostly because it has shrunk considerably... Not just that it's old and dried out.

You will find its a whole lot shorter when you get it all off than it was on the guitar.

Its usually glued on with hide glue or it was solvent glued on with some strong thinner - so careful pallet knife work and a little alcohol or the correct celluloid solvent and it comes off. I would stay away from heat with celluloid if you can... Don't want it to catch fire or go pop.

If it is not valuable, replace the full binding. It'll likely be a helluva lot easier.

Why do you need to remove it?

What is it made of?

Make and model and age of guitar?

Photos?