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I have bent one set of sides and bindings on my homemade bending iron. I have a post and picture of it in the 'fixture, video, etc.' forum. I use a BBQ thermometer to check temps on my pipe. When I see STEWMAC as well as other site instructions, it is suggested that you have the pipe somewhere in the 350 and 400. However when I use the water tests, the water practically explodes into stem on my tool at 250-300. When I say explodes I mean, some water does bead and run off but most goes right to steam. I saw an MIMF post that said somewhere in the 200-250 range is fine. I use a 200 watt bulb for heat and have already blown a bulb when I let it heat up past 300.

Any suggestions to my confusion. I struggled with the first bends and had a couple minor wood tears with my first mahogany bends ( I was using B grades so the wood was not the best). My first binding bends were not good and broke the first two. When I relaxed and slowed down the next two did better and only had one very small tear the was eliminated with the leveling. The temp of the tool was kept around 250 - 300 for all this.

Am I just worrying about this temperature issue needlessly or do I need higher temps? When I spritz the pipe should I have any water beading up and running off or should it all go to steam? Or do I just need more practice LOL ?

Your advice, critic, suggestions are all welcome. I am an equal opportunity gatherer of knowledge.

250 is fine. The mimf info seems correct compared to what I've experienced. Steam is steam, once water sizzles on the pipe I begin. Just keep moving the wood and misting and you'll be good. Sometimes I soak a towel and put it on the pipe also

edit: but when the water does bead on the pipe, I let it heat back up again before I spray any more water.

I don't know the exact temperature I bend at. When I spritz water onto the pipe and the droplets sizzle and dance around , I start bending. I try to maintain this temperature, whatever it may be, the entire time I bend. I have bent the sides to three guitars so far using this simple guideline, and have had great results. If water instantly evaporates as soon as it hits the pipe, it is generally too hot and will scorch the wood easily. If water just sits on the pipe in beads, it is not hot enough.

That said, different wood sometimes requires a different approach and different bending temp. So far, I have bent only EIR and Black Walnut (both of which bend quite easily).

Good luck. I enjoy bending sides on a pipe. There is something very cool about feeling the wood release and bend to your will.

Aaron

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Aaron Craig

Mahogany is inconsistent. Some times it's sort of easy and sometimes not. My experience anyway.

I bend most stuff around 325 to 350 and use a 300 watt incandescent. Still on the same bulb almost 10 years now.

I like to keep my bending pipe quite hot, I guess; "the water test" should show no dancing droplets, just sizzle and steam followed by quite rapid evaporation is what I go for. It does mean you have to keep moving the wood, and you have to act fast once you feel that it gives, but it works.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin