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straighten flamed maple top
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Author:  Buenaventura Durruti [ Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:05 pm ]
Post subject:  straighten flamed maple top
Hi
This is my first post in this excelent forum
First of all sorry for my bad english.
I´m going to build my first guitar. It will be a flattop hollowbody 12 strings electric guitar. The body will be emptied (? Ooops) from a hard maple blanc and the top will be a nice 7mm master grade flamed maple top I bought in http://www.northridgehardwoods.com/. I have everything to start except the neck, which is the only thing I don´t dare to do, yet. I hope it arrives soon, from soulmate.
The problem I have is that the top arrived a few milimeters bent lengthwise. Probably it happened in the flight (I live in Barcelona, Spain).
The top has been pressed between two straight pieces of wood during a few months but the top is still bent. I have read a few methods to straighten woods, but I havent found a really detailed method of how doing it. I know the wood should be dempen and then pressed.
Could someone explain me how, exactly, to do it.
And my greatest fear: If I achieve it, is there the posibility that it bents again, once the guitar is finished? That would be a catastrophe.

Thanks very much
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten flamed maple top
First because of the radical grain orientation changes in Flamed maple this is not that unusual. You might try laying the planks or plank cup side down on a flat concrete surface for a couple days. If moisture is the problem the concrete will draw it out quickly. Once flat sticker the planks of plank independently of each other allowing good air flow around both planks. Suckering is placing the planks with 3 equal sized approx 1x1x plank width sticker sticks equally spaced across the width of the planks. 3 under and 3 over then a weighted board on top of the last set of sticker sticks this will force the planks into a common plane and allow air flow around the planks this will allow the planks to best acclimate and reach equilibrium.

placing the planks between two larger sheets of plywood or MDF does not allow the planks to acclimate equally due to lack of air flow. The curly grain is running near vertical and somewhat sealed by your press boards.
Author:  Buenaventura Durruti [ Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten flamed maple top
Thank you very much Michael!
I´ll try that
I´ve read a lot about dampen the wood before. Do you think it would help. I don´t think moisture is the problem. Maybe it has been the problem in any moment of the journey, but where it lies now, the damp is not really high.


Thanks again
Author:  Mattia Valente [ Sun Nov 22, 2009 11:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten flamed maple top
Generally, 6 to 7mm thick wood can be pushed flat without all too much effort. A solidbody (even a chambered one, provided it's got a good 15mm wide sides, which is what I tend to do on my chambered electrics), a good glue (titebond, epoxy) and plenty of clamps and your problem is solved. It won't have enough internal stress to warp the whole body if the rest of the guitar is nice and stable.
Author:  Buenaventura Durruti [ Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten flamed maple top
Hi,
but this one will be hollowbody
Author:  Mattia Valente [ Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten flamed maple top
Buenaventura Durruti wrote:
Hi,
but this one will be hollowbody


yes, still not a problem if minimal pressure will flatten it out, certaily if you hollow the body by chambering. If you use bent sides it might be a bit trickier.

M.
Author:  Buenaventura Durruti [ Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten flamed maple top
Thank you very much
I´ll try to flatten the wood.
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