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I'm getting ready to bend some Tas BW. I know acacias react to aluminum foil commonly used in bending. Wrapping the side in paper, either kraft or butcher, seems a little iffy. If the staining from the steel slats migrates through the paper then all is lost, as they say.
I ran across some thin teflon sheets for vinyl heat pressing. The size is not big enough for an unspliced piece to be used but some kits come with high temp tape. I also thought about silicone baking mats, which would also require splicing. Silicone is a worry, however. Silicone migrating into the wood, even in a small amount, would make finishing a nightmare.
Thanks,
Tom

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Half of my guitars are an acacia, either Koa or Australian Blackwood. I wrap in a paper towel and use stainless steel bending slats and have had no issues. In the past I have had staining from soft steel slats, but I have always been able to just sand it off as part of the normal finishing sanding I do. The silicon mat is an interesting idea. As to your concern about silicone mats, The heat blankets most of use are silicone. A lazy idea might be to use a heat blanket on both sides of the wood.

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Almost all my building is in koa. Don't mess with the aluminum foil.Lots of staining with that. For some reason, aluminum flashing does not cause issues. I used it for years, but now I use stainless on the wood wrapped in paper and aluminum flashing only on the top of the blanket.-Bob

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I use scrap HPL for bending slats. I don't bother with paper, but no reason you couldn't use it. Most commercial cabinet shops have "off fall" from laminated cabinet work and will give away or sell cheaply the stuff headed for the dumpster. Although not as durable as spring steel the HPL can be used multiple times - and then you can build a guitar out of it.

I just use drywall/Kraft paper and stainless slats. Any small amount of staining just sands out easily...

This is interesting. Like drywall roll that is ~4” wide?


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I think it’s drywall tape? Not certain but it’s found usually near all the spackle and spatulas at Lowe’s...



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I use that paper too. Mine's used for painting. Goes in a tool with masking tape for masking edges.

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"Music is what feelings sound like"