Binding cleanup - Help

[Pat.Hawkins]

Hi Folks,
I've been making a couple of dulcimers with two young fellows and decided to try some black/white/black purfling as binding.

As you can see we left the binding a bit proud and sanded away the outer black in places.

We've managed to preserve the top edges so they still look ok from above.

I'm tempted to run a permanent marker around them before spraying but thought it wise to seek advice here first.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

[kiwigeo]

I'm anal about such things....I'd rout out and fit some bindings but that's just me. Alternately I'd re-rout channel and fit a single ebony half binding as is done on many lutes.

[simso]

I would mix some aniline black up and mask the sides etc and rub into place

Steve

[Steve.Toscano]

BWB purfling is pretty soft. You sure you want to use in on the part of the instrument that tends to cop the most knocks?
I'd re route and go for something harder on the outside of it.

[56nortondomy]

I agree with the other guys, it's more work but I'd rout it off and use bindings, I think it'd be much better.
Wayne

[kiwigeo]

Here's the ebony half binding I used on my Gerber lute.

[frankfalbo]

The white is porous. Many of the solutions proposed carry the risk of the black color bleeding into the side of the white, and then up to stain the white.

You could try to get thin CA to wick into the top surface of the white, to seep in and protect from the color seeping up.

Then, I might recommend, rather than black marker or other pigment, to use black superglue. Stew Mac sells one, but in my experience the color is denser in Loctite Black Max. Not sure what's available for you there.