How to Repair Acoustic Guitar Binding

Short answer... glue it back together!
Long answer... watch the video to learn how.

[stellingfan]

Common issue on newer Martins. Amazing that this is the best they can do. My first and last Martin product!

[markymarkau]

Very useful video, thank you. I had the same problem with my 2012 D-18.

[rogjackson]

Nice work. Looks very professional. I have a D-35 and the back binding has a lot of separation, like two feet or more. How is that addressed?

[sgtyut]

Just be careful and do your research. I was going to do this but the consensus is that CA can bleed into the wood and discolor it. It can also damage finishes. Some repair guys recommend using shellac to seal the wood and prevent any bleeding. Different luthiers and repair guys have recommended Weld On and Tite Bond instead. I'm probably going to use Stewmac's binding glue which is another favorite.

[danrowe]

Thanks for the help and CHAPEAU! for the homemade humidifier!

[lestergiesbrecht]

Thanks, now I know how to repair my 00 Martin binding.

[jlmain]

I had a new ebony bridge replaced on an old Gibson acoustic guitar and it cracked. I watched a very famous guitar builder fill the crack with super glue, let it dry while we talked, and buff it out and it still looks new.

[mrshiney]

This is a known Martin defect. I dont think humidity is the issue. My Martin peeled, My Taylor is just fine

[Googliaooota]

Loose bindings like this are just an ornamental repair though. Nothing about that affects the sound or structural integrity, am I right about that?

[BillWardChautauqua]

All kinds of things wrong with this method. The waste didn't shrink, The Binding did. You need to heat the binding to make sure it is stretched enough to glue back in. And then never, never use super glue on a guitar. It wasn't used to build it, and it shouldn't be used to repair it. Wood glue only.

[snowpro]

How is it holding up over year later? I have the same issue with one of my acoustics.

[bluegrassbarry]

D18 like yours same binding separation as yours.

[wildbob]

I glued my bindings back with wood glue before watching this. Should I worry? Also how do you check the humidity and what do you do if it is dried out?

[phyfts]

What if I don't fix it for a long time? Will it be unfixable later?

[johnmacdougall]

Dude I've got a D-17m and the same planet waves humidifier, and that very same binding issue on both the top and bottom of the body.

[hrodulfr]

70% of humidity is not an issue !!! More than 75% is !!!

[dougcook]

I have six guitars in my music room some as old as 1955 up through the years until till now my Martin which is 11 years old started about 2 years ago first time binding came loose and about 3 more times since then . The Martin is the only one that ever done this . The humidity is controlled with a big gauge on the wall . Martin has a great sound but I would never buy another one . I did the repairs according to Martin's spec's that they sent me six months later it comes loose again .

[fleadoggreen]

Why would a repair shop recommend refinishing the guitar after replacing the binding? It’s recommended on their web site

[Stanthemanmusic]

can you dive e the manufacturer of the glue?

[jamesconradtucker]

You shouod state at the begining, and not the end "This is not for a museum piece".
You don't hold binding in place while gluing. Period. Tyoically, the adhesive will either weep into places unknown, from different applied pressures, ruining your finish.

You mask, as well as mask protect surfaces. It's no wonder your end result wasn't perfect. You simply cannot control the process with hand pressure. Particularly anything greater than a one inch seam, or worse, where the binding has naturally pulled away due to humidity.

Thanks for the band-aid fix instruction. Some people have Martin's they would like to also play, but not see a shoddy repair.

Folks, do not do this by hand pressure as shown, unless you want tears in your eyes, and wondering "what did I do?"

Also, use Bind-all. It's made for bonding such materials.