Official Luthiers Forum!

I like the idea of bending sides without adding water, relying on the water already in the wood and the heat to do the job. I know some of you, e.g. Tony Karol, are doing it this way. I'm about to try it on two sets of wood, one of curly cherry and one of curly walnut. I'll be using a simple bending form and a heat blanket. I'm looking for advice on temperatures to use (different from bending with wetted sides?), how long to "cook" or "set" the bend, one heating cycle or more, and anything else you think might help me have success and not scorch my sides.

Thanks in advance for your help!   

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Todd,

I use to bend sides dry exclusively. I found I had no problem bending them that way but I was bending by hand. I started spritzing them when I started bending with a heating blanket. I can't feel the wood and I can't really see it so when adding water I can at least "hear" it. This helps me know the wood is hot enough to begin bending.

I think you will be fine bending figured walnut and cherry dry - I would - same temp and bending time as usual, maybe a tad slower - its not really the moisture that bends anyway, its more the right heat. Aound 300 is fine. Should bend in about 5 minutes, then drop the heat a buit, cook for 10 more. I would heat/cool 15 minutes at least twice, maybe 3 times, but both these woods are easy to bend compared to say a macassar or cocobolo. If you want to, spritz ever so slightly from a distance, so the wood doesnt really get wet - more a mist, then wrap in foil. Thge cherry I dont think will stain, but walnut might with water - use distilled.

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

Were the Northern Pikes Canadian or does everybody get that one?

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Thanks for your comments and advice, guys.

Tony, when you reheat for additional cycles (when bending dry), do you go back up to 300*? The idea of heating up to 300* repeatedly without having wetted the wood makes me fearful of burning the wood.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

No more like 250 or something I guess - I dont actually measure the temp, I just know where the sweet spot is on my blanket and dimmer for bending, and baking as I call it.

yes the Pikes are Canadian .. I just love the irony in those lines - shes ready to go, and he is as flat broke as a luthier !!!!

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

Thanks, Tony.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/