Purfling Installation — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Purfling InstallationType: techniqueInlaying thin decorative and protective strips along the edges of the instrument top and back, a hallmark of quality craftsmanship.## Overview Purfling is the narrow inlaid border that runs along the edges of an instrument's top and back, just inside the binding. In violin making, purfling is structurally essential—it prevents cracks from propagating inward from the plate edges. In guitar making, it serves a similar protective function while adding a refined decorative accent. The traditional purfling strip is a sandwich of black-white-black wood or fiber, though many variations exist. ## Process Purfling channels are cut around the perimeter of the top and back plates, typically 2-3mm from the edge. The channel width matches the purfling strip (commonly 1.5-2mm) and the depth is about two-thirds of the plate thickness. For violin family instruments, the channel is traditionally cut with a purfling marker (a double-bladed knife that scribes both edges simultaneously) and then excavated with a narrow chisel. Guitar builders often use a router with a small straight bit and an edge-following guide. The purfling strips must be bent to follow the plate contour. For gentle curves, the strips can be bent dry. For tighter curves—especially the C-bouts of a violin or the waist of a guitar—the strips are moistened or heated to prevent cracking. The corners of violin purfling are mitered with a sharp knife to create clean intersections, a hallmark of fine craftsmanship. The strips are glued into the channel, pressed in with a blunt tool, and clamped or weighted until dry. After curing, the purfling is scraped flus…