Official Luthiers Forum!

Thanks to Todd (I think it was him) for the kraft paper idea when bending the sides. My second set bent well and they are beutifully free of resin spots.

The problem:

This side bending gets easier, and this set went well except for a crack. The crack is about 1/3 of the way from the top of the side, it runs with the grain, is about 1 to 1.5 inches long at the butt.

This is where i  am going to glue the tail block, but the crack will still be visible a little bit after trimming and putting in the tail piece.

Should I leave it for now and glue the tail piece and then flood any visible area with glue and dust or try some sort of fix now before I glue in the block ?

Thanks in advance, and one of these days I will post from home and post some pics

Actually, I know what i did.

I think I took too long on the waist and the other side. This is only my second set to bend (first is on the wall as a reminder of what NOT to do   ).  I used kraft paper that was wet, and by the time I got to the bending the lower bout I think the heat had dried most of the moisture. I bent a little too fast and heard it happen. I was glad that was the only crack.

I don't have springs, I have what I call a Ghetto Bender (patent pending). My bender is a typical 1/2 mold with wierd long screws that twist a mahoganey scrap block tight by with lawn mower wheel handles.

Thanks for the input guys,

Now, what type of glue would be best. I seem to have not advanced much beyond the titebond for everything phase yet. I want to ask if other types of glue would be better before i go and use titebond.

Being that the side is so thin (about 0.080") what would be the best way to clamp it tight.