Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm just starting a couple of new builds and have a Wenge B & S set, that I would like to use. I have a Fox style bender w/light bulbs and a bending pipe. Has anyone had any experience with bending Wenge? Just curious to know if I might run into problems in advance.


Thanks,
Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Me too......anyone bent any wenge successfully?

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

It bends OK, no special problems. But it is always waiting for a moment when it can spit out a splinter into a finger.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I got a splinter just from reading this post.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

I have bent it a number of times .. bends OK, a touch hotter than most maybe, and if using a fox, re-cook it at least twice, as it likes to spring back alot .. you will likley need to touch up the waist on the pipe. I would put it in the same lot as padauk, but slightly easier, if you have ever bent that.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Yep porcupine wood. It is a more than just desent tone wood but for me it is among if not at the top of my "I really don't care if I ever use this wood again" list. not just because of splinters

Thanks for the replies and the info. Well I'm kind of glad that I only have one set of this stuff as it seems it's not high on the popularity list. Oh well it should go well in a 000 w/maple binding.

Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

What woods for a second build then my mahogany bent like a dream, and I want a different wood, I was thinking of wenge or paduk, but they may be too hard I only have a hot pipe.

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

I remember a conversation with Ervin Somogyi in which he really sang the praises of Wenge. He likes it so well, if memory serves, that he offers it as a standard wood option.
At the last GAL convention there was a young man attending who had brought along a Wenge guitar. He reported no special problems, and the guitar was beautiful.

Don't give up on it.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I like Wenge!
I've made many guitars with it and have had no problems .
It especially goes great with curly redwood for the top!!!!

BUT -the pores are a mile deep !!!!!!

Can you say fill-fill -fill!!!!!

mike

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Mike Collins

i've only built one guitar with wenge. tony is right - the spring back was huge. i tried to force it into the mold and it split. so i guess i've built 1 1/2 guitars with wenge because i had to replace the side set. it went better the second time. it was paired with a sitka top and sounds great - almost like it took a little of the edge off the sitka. the dark even color makes it look good with any binding.
but then there are the splinters, and the pores, and the stuff tends to clog up sandpaper. i also thought it smelled a little like a wet horse blanket when sanding it.
i'll build with it again, but i'm in no rush.
phil

I could put up with all the hassles of building with it, but what turned me off is the potential for splits after it has become a guitar.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.