Curly Koa and Plain Koa Binding and Headcaps
Everything on this page, with the exception of non- curly koa binding which I do have, is on hold due to supply issues. Looks like I won't be having any curly koa binding unless I accidentally find some curly stock. It is pretty much unobtainable now.
I do have non-curly koa binding whichconsiderably less expensive and still makes great binding. Most non-curly koa binding will still have some figure and flashes of curl.
Crazy new USPS shipping cost. As of last June, the USPS has added a surcharge of $15.00, plus the regular postage which is also higher, to any package over 30". Add that together with the very high cost of koa, and curly koa bindings are becoming a thing of the past. A single set of binding, with the surcharges, could cost over $25-$30 just for the mail. Of course, the price per set for the mail goes down significantly when multiple sets are combined. Much of the shipping cost is due to the weight of the support needed to protect the fragile binding.
Unless you really need koa for your project, save yourself some $ and use some other wood. If however koa is the only wood that will do, I do have very nice non-curly koa and curly mango wood. Good luck with your projects.
Due to the extra time and packaging involved in shipping binding, the minimum order is 2 sets of binding.
My curly koa bindings, when available, are available in sizes for guitar or ukulele and are nicely sanded square and to size. Shipping from Hawaii is expensive. My standards are very high. You may not need the high quality of matched curly bindings that I sell and I advise you to check with Mainland suppliers before ordering binding from me. All orders are shipped via Priority Mail in the U.S. Note that the bindings are fragile and must be securely packaged and reinforced for shipment, so the cost of shipping for single sets is the same as for up to 4 sets. Payment can be made through PayPal. Contact me for payment and order details [email protected]
To order contact [email protected]. and tell me where in the country you are located. I'll calculate the shipping and send you a PayPal invoice.
Please note changes to my binding thickness as of 9/15/2020. Many builders want to add their own purfling to the bottom of bindings. To facilitate that, even though I'll make less due to the extra waste, I am now making my bindings 3+mm thick. This leaves some working room for the builder to glue on the purfling and sand it level. It will still be sanded flat on all sides. If you prefer the regular 2.3mm thickness, I will still sand the binding to 2.3mm thick if desired at no extra charge. Or, I can sand it to any thickness you want between 2mm and 3.5mm. Just let me know.
IF YOU DON'T SPECIFY A THICKNESS YOU WANT, THE BINDINGS WILL BE 3.5MM+ THICK AND YOU CAN SAND THEM YOURSELF TO DESIRED THICKNESS.
As soon as I can, I'll also post a description of a shop made tool that allows you to easily do a perfect job of applying purfling to the edge of binding.
Guitar Binding- Minimum size 2.3mm to 3.5mm thick x 7mm tall x 820mm long.
Ukulele binding- Minimum size is 2.3 mm to 3.5mm thick x 7mm tall x 510mm long.
All bindings in a set are cut from the same piece of wood for a great color match. I can't match specific colors, but sometimes I can choose lighter or darker sets if I have them. You can ask
Prices shown are for guitar sets. Ukulele bindings are the same cost, even though they are shorter, but you can sometimes save considerable amounts in the shipping. All pricing is the same.
Curly koa strips are $5.50 each. All sets of 4 pieces of binding will include a matching piece for the endgraft.
Please order by set # and speciffy thickness.
Curly Koa Bindings
#1 -- 4 matched pieces. $22.00. Enough for top and back.
#2--5 matched pieces $27.50 Enough for top & back and an extra piece just in case.
#3--6 matched pieces. $33.00. Enough for top, back, & neck.
#4--7 matched pieces $38.50. Enough for top, back, neck, and an extra piece just in case.
#5--8 matched pieces w/endgraft $44.00 . Enough for top, back, neck, & headstock.
Plain Koa Bindings $3.50 each
#6-- Plain koa binding 20 piece bulk
order. $65.00
"Thanks for the great service. The binding looks excellent."-Kent 3/27/13
"Got the beautiful bindings Bob, thanks.
I actually burst out laughing when I saw the bamboo packaging. Outstanding and indestructible!. A great idea.
Bill."
I actually burst out laughing when I saw the bamboo packaging. Outstanding and indestructible!. A great idea.
Bill."
The photos below are representative of the quality of curly koa binding that I sell. Those particular pieces were cut from the same piece of wood and sold years ago. It is impossible to show photos of individual sets, because my supply is constantly changing as I make binding from different pieces of wood. When you order binding, if you want to, you can indicate if you would like darker or lighter colors. If I have it, I'll do my best to supply that. I can not match binding to specific colors. Just too many varieties of koa to do that. I try to supply the best binding that I have at the time to any builder who orders. If you ask for my very best, offer to pay more for the best, ask me for 5A wood, ask for things like heirloom quality because you are making the world's most special guitar, or any other such nonsense, you should check around for other suppliers.
Received the bindings today, beautiful quality! Its nice to find a source for the good stuff.--Mike- March 2014
Bob,
The bindings just got here. I wanted to write and say how great they look. Thanks so much. I hope to order again in the future. I will certainly recommend you to anyone looking for koa bindings. --B.D.
The bindings just got here. I wanted to write and say how great they look. Thanks so much. I hope to order again in the future. I will certainly recommend you to anyone looking for koa bindings. --B.D.
Purflings
Please Note
I have to order purflings in fairly large batches. Even though my purflings are made by just one company, there can be slight color differences in color from batch to batch. I keep these separate and never mix them in an order, but if you have purflings left over, or from another supplier, the colors may not be an exact match.
Please Note
I have to order purflings in fairly large batches. Even though my purflings are made by just one company, there can be slight color differences in color from batch to batch. I keep these separate and never mix them in an order, but if you have purflings left over, or from another supplier, the colors may not be an exact match.
I don't always have all of the different heights of purfling in stock. I will substitute other heights unless you specify you want only 1 height.
Dyed Fiber Purfling-- Most of my purflings are longer than usual. Long enough to go all the way around an ukulele.
3 layer purflings $2.25 each
Single layer purflings $1.20 each
Black/White/Black 10/15/10 thick x .080 tall x 40" long
Black/White/Black 10/15/10 thick x .110 tall x 40" long
Black/Turquoise/Black 1-/15/10 thick x.110 tall x 40" long
Black/Turquoise/Black 10/15/10 thick x .110 tall x 40" long
Black/Red/Black 10/15/10 x .100 tall x 40" long
Black/Red/Black 10/15/10 x .110 tall x 40" long
Black/Fushia/Black 10/15/10 x .110 tall x 40" long
Black/Yellow/Black 1-/15/10 x .110 tall x 40" long
Black/Maple wood/Black 10/15/10- .080 tall- 40" long
Single Black Fiber .020-.100 tall- 40" long
Curly Koa Guitar Headcaps- Minumum Size 3.5mm thick x 3 1/2" wide x 8" long. Most slightly larger.$6.00
Select Koa Guitar Headcaps. Not Curly, but good color. Same size as curly headcaps $4.00
Curly Koa Ukulele Headcaps- Minumum Size 3.5mm thick x 3" wide x 6" long $5.00
Select Koa Ukulele Headcaps. Not Curly but good color. Same size as curly head caps $3.00
Select Koa Guitar Headcaps. Not Curly, but good color. Same size as curly headcaps $4.00
Curly Koa Ukulele Headcaps- Minumum Size 3.5mm thick x 3" wide x 6" long $5.00
Select Koa Ukulele Headcaps. Not Curly but good color. Same size as curly head caps $3.00
