Official Luthiers Forum!

I forget which book I read it in, but the author recommended soaking rosewoods for long periods of time (week or two) while applying a little heat to the trough. Replacing the water every day.

(i don't know if it was limited to indian rosewood or what)

The idea was that it leached the tar out of the wood.

Also, he also recommend bending the sides without any heat at all. (I think it was with a Fox type bender but not sure)

With all that people say about heating and such I am wondering if anyone out there bends without any heat. If so, how do you rate it? Also, I am wondering how well this extended soak works with removing the tars. Any takers?

-Rick

When he says to bend with out heat is that after soaking in water for a long time? I can't imagine trying to bend wood with out softening it some how.

I'm at a loss to see how water would remove oils without some sort of 'soaping' agent. So, uh, no, I don't buy into it.

Besides, Indian rosewood? A spritz and 5 minutes in a bender and you've got perfectly bent sides. Even if you're a complete newbie at the game.

It very well might have been Overholtzer's Classical Guitar Construction. He might have mentioned TIDE too, sounds vaguely familiar. But I don't remember the acetone at all. Maybe I read a 'newer' revision, considering health risks.

Thanks for the point on tar laden side 'voices' Michael. Do you remember the part about the side bender without heat sources in that book? If so, what do you think.

Like Graham, I am very sceptical about it. But considering the author has credibility, and my desire to NOT scorch the wood with any sort of heat source / bender combo, I'd like to purse this route if it has validity.


-Rick

As posted last week amonia will make the cells very relaxed, enough to bend with out heat, but you would need a sealed inviroment and a constant fuming action because the amonia evaporates very quickly and is very harmful to you in both gas and liquid state.

Amonia isn't the best method for bending. Amonia will darken most hardwoods . This is somthing you need to be careful of. Too much in the solution will case discoloration. You still can't beat heat to bend wood. As for the resins , I use paper against the wood. This will pick most of it. I don't see what the big deal is as the resins sand off .
   Cool bending has a few problems. too much moisture can cause warping. You will also have to wait a long period for building. In the olden days luthiers used candels and oil lamps for heat to bend wood. You don't need high tech just good techniques
john hall