Homemade bending pipe

[Danl8]

Nice set-up! I used my bench vise to hold my almost-identical-to-yours pipe. The torch is a faster method than an electrical element. You mentioned doing sides -- it isn't really hard, but I can recommend practicing first. You already have experience with binding and purfling. I would try 1/16" stock in maybe in 2" wide strips and then after time move to 3/32" stock and so on up to maybe 1/8". Plan on breaking and scorching them as well as creating serpentine shapes. When you get a feel for the heat necessary to get the wood plastic but not burnt and the right moment to apply pressure and how to use backing you will be good to go for sides. Mahogany needs its own practice as do various figured woods. I do my bending dry, occasionally using water for steam on stubborn bends. I did my first bending in 1975 with mahogany sides and totally buggered the first set. Routine practice really helps as I found out last year when I got back into doing this.