Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello All!

I know this isn’t a huge success, but, I’m just a little excited at what I accomplished this morning!

I successfully bent my first cutaway side! Both sides seem to fit quite nicely in the mold, however,
I did get a little scorching. I sanded with 120 grit right away, and it looks like I got almost all of it off.
I’m thinking its going to be OK after some more sanding. Perhaps though, I should ask if you
other hot pipe users have to deal a little scorching?

Here’s a couple of pics of the sides in the mold.

Thanks for looking!

Robert

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

Don't sell it short---that's a great accomplishment!

Great job Robert!   Yessir, the first cutaway! I'll echo James' comment, don't sell yourself short. A lot of folks have yet to attempt it! Plus, that looks like a might fine effort for having used a pipe. Did you do it all with the pipe or just the cutaway?

Sanding should take it away and it's only normal. On pale woods, you might want to try and cover the wood with foil or craft paper (I think the foil can cause discoloration on certain woods like Koa...). I've also tried covering the pipe with a clean rag that I kept misting with a bottle... I had heard that piece of advice on this site and it did release humidity and seemed to help with the tighter bend... It was a bit of a PITA to keep on the pipe though as I like to move the piece from side to side to remove kinks.

I've only done 3 so far but they've all come away scorched a bit in the cutaway... I just fist pump my chest like a silver-back and grunt and growl and say..'Hot!'...It makes me feel quite manly! Are you using propane and if so, have you burned your stomach yet? Ah... the rites of passage...

Keep up the great work! I really like that top bracing. Nice and clean!

So, string her up already!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Good work dude! Do I see the next MAGI tutorial? Congrats!

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Pipe bent, I'd say that's huge from my standpoint.

Peter

Very nice,

I think it's a great effort for a first cut-away (still needing to do my first...), especially on a pipe. FYI, parchment paper (used in baking- my wife had a roll in the kitchen, disappeared mysteriously) is also good for wrapping the sides during bending.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Nice !!!! VERY nice !

COngrats on a job well done!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Very nice!

Just a note on parchment/baking paper: make SURE it's not the silicone impregnated kind, or you're looking at finishing nightmares down the road.

Nice work and even nicer work if it was done on a pipe. Youve done well there mate.

Thanks everyone, for all the words of encouragement!

Todd, I’m gonna being doing just that, some time this week. How did you make yours?

James, you and others, are making me re-think the importance of what I’ve accomplished. Thanks!

Alain, wish I could take credit for the fine brace work, but, I got that top pre-braced at the Swap
Meet a couple months ago. That fine brace work was done by Mr. John Watkins!

I should tell you that the side set I started with was pre-bent to fit a dreadnought. That had me a
little concerned at first, because I never heard of anyone re-bending sides before.
Anyway, (according to Cumpiano) I soaked the one side not for the cutaway for 10 minutes in a
bath tub of hot water. The side for the cutaway I did for 15 minutes. I was thinking, maybe a little
extra time in the tub would help to insure a clean bend. I started on the cutaway bend, right away.
Cumpiano, from what I remember, didn’t mention using paper or foil, so I didn’t. Truth be said, I
think I would have had less scorching if I would’ve moved a little faster.

The pics below show the set up, and a before/after side bend, to answer some of your questions.

Oh Yeah! Nope, didn’t burn my stomach, but, I was wondering about a smell,
I looked down to see a little brown spot on my T-shirt! So, I fixed that with an old sink drain,
and a pipe cap. Which made a very fine baffle to help even out the heat on the pipe!

Bill, If you think it be worthy? What the heck, I’m game! How ‘bout we make it real challenging.
You bring the coco, and I’ll bring the cooker!

Once again, thanks to everyone!

Robert

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

Great job Robert !
WTG man! You are moving right along and good lookin' hot pipe you made there.
I have yet to attempt a cutaway myself but this is great motivation to do it!

I'll echo what Todd said about spreaders -Very important and necessary.Thanks for sharing this.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755