This binding jig was invented by Harry Fleishman to cut binding and purfling channels.

The plans were published in an issue of American Lutherie. Luthier, D.E. Williams, modified Fleishman's design and was kind enough to offer up instructions on how to build the modified jig on his Website: http://www.dewguitars.com/BindingJig/Binding%20Jig.htm.

I made this jig to fit my Bosch Colt laminate trimmer.

The parallelogram pieces were made from pieces of laminate flooring.

The drawer slides for the horizontal extension arm and the lazy-susan were bought at Lowes.

I prefer this jig over others because you have control over the router - you hold the router and move it around the guitar body, rather than moving the guitar body through the router. If something doesn't feel right, just lift and move the router away from the body.

I use the Stewmac bearing set - it's pricy but has bearings in .010" increments so it can handle most commercially available bindings and you have a lot of flexibility if you create your own bindings.

When I make my own bindings, I make them so I can use one of the bearings in the set, without a lot of leveling out later.

At right, you can see the the completed stairstep purfling and binding channels.

At left is the base for the jig made from UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight) plastic.

You can see the donut ledge that rides on the guitar body.

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Below you can see how the jig was used to rout the channels on a banjo rim. I also used it to cut the channel for the banjo tone ring.

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