Official Luthiers Forum!

Before I risk snapping some very expensive zoot I thought I'd ask.

I'm planning on bending Bob C's Snake-a-lam purflings and Snakewood bindings at the same time.

Any advice based on prior experience would be appreciated.

TIA

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Buy extra, keep CA glue handy, bend at a high heat, try to keep both sides reinforced, take them down to nearly final thickness first, and keep the tweezers handy.

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

What these guys said!
And as JF implies with his tweezer comment, you might want to invest in a nice pair of thin gloves. The slivers want to jump at you. It's insane. Last time I worked with it, Jenn and I had a little "pull all the slivers out of Paul's hands" party for about an hour.

Thanks guys...just what I need to know...and prepare for Sounds like it's better that I have all the routing completed before even thinking about the bending operation.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Good advice and don't try to bend them too thick. High heat but don't cook them too long, I scorched a set by leaving them hot too long.
best of luckJohn How39065.6424652778

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

John...what's your opinion as to the upper limit on thickness...and temp?

I'm planning to SuperSoft the bindings. I've had very good results bending difficult sides...why not try it here.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Update:

I successfully bent the bindings!

Here's what I did:
1) Taped 4 bindings in 4 places
2) Spritzed the SuperSoft 2 and let the bindings sit in aluminum foil for a day.
3) Next day, I spritzed with water, sealed in foil and placed in the Fox Bender
4) Heated to 325* and allowed to cool to RT
5) Heated again to 325* and allowed to cool
6) Taped bindings in the mold form until ready to use.

There was no springback and they look great. Incidentally...each time I've used the Super Soft 2 on difficult woods I've had success. I believe there's something happening and so far it's been good. I continue to recommend this stuff.

Thanks to those who offered advice.JJ Donohue39070.7838310185

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ where arte you buying your Supersoft?

http://www.joewoodworker.com/catalog/product_info.php?produc ts_id=616

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Can't get that link to work. It keeps saying product not found.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

link

Gotta take out the extra space in "products" in the URL.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I've heard of using a little fabric softener in with the water to help bend highly figured wood. I've never tried it though.

Anyone else hear this or try it?

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I guess it depends on what smell you want eh?

Thanks for the other tips Hesh.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Now I got the link to work. Just put my order in.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Sorry to be late, but thanks for the great tips guys, i have some snakewood here too!