Best way to remove body or fretboard binding?

Sambostar

I was thinking of scoring the paint with a scalpel and then trying to separate the stuff on the other plane, as it tends to take big chunks of wood out with the paint otherwise, or should I just make a jig and rout it out on the body?  Any suggestions?

WezV

Doesn't often pull off chunks of wood, if you think it will then routing it out is the best bet but needs special tools. 

definitely score the edges first to protect the paint, then run a chisel or purfling cutter (can be homemade) around the edges.   depending on the glue you can also try heat, but if its pulling chunks out of wood i suspect the binding will melt before the glue softens

cheapest option is to go slow with a sharp knife or chisel

Sambostar

Great Cool thanks!