About This Course

Most luthiers have never even considered using dyed burl purflings — the material is stunning but notoriously brittle. In this focused mini-course, luthier Nigel Forster shows how to make dyed burl inlay cleanly and predictably, turning what’s normally a fragile, waste-heavy material into something you can use with confidence. Drawing on over 35 years of professional experience, Nigel demonstrates a simple, reliable approach that works with tools found in most workshops. You’ll learn how to select, prepare, glue, and bend burl strips for flawless results, along with practical troubleshooting tips from real-world builds. Whether you’ve broken one too many strips or never dared try, this course gives you the understanding and confidence to make beautiful, durable burl purflings that elevate your instruments beyond the ordinary.

Learn About:

• Why dyed burl purflings are so difficult — and how to overcome it
• The tools, materials, and jigs that make the process manageable
• Step-by-step material prep, gluing and bending methods
• Preventing and fixing cracks, splits, and glue failures
• Real examples from Nigel’s own guitars