bending machine technique

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tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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bending machine technique

Post by tippie53 »

on OLF a question was asked about Super soft 2 and bending
I thought that you may find this information helpful

I stopped using SS2 and went with windex. One thing for sure is that wood is stupid get it hot it bends.
I have been bending wood over 20 years for guitars and have seen lots of methods.
a few things I have learned
A wood selection is most important , not all wood wants to be a guitar
B thickness I bend like Martin at .075 in thick
C heat I use heat blankets and sandwich with wet paper slat - wet paper-wood-wet paper - slat blanket
I tried the alum foil but found that it takes a longer time for the wood to dry.
Start bending as 250F lower bout 275 upper bout and waist then allow heat to 375F then 15 min at 250F
let cool

D time I am done actual bending in 4 minutes.
If you go too fast you crack too slow you crack.
Hint apply some weight to the slat I use a 2 lb alum chunk and let it hang holding the slat against
the wood , when you see the slat dropping your wood relaxes and is ready to accept the bend

the cool down period is also important.

SS2 is not going to make your wood feel floppy what it does do is allow the cell to become more thermoplastic
Windex does the same thing

personally I think that it is still more wood selection

Think pressing when using a machine

Hand bending use a steam iron along with the hot pipe and then once the wood is movable a slat helps to
hold it in shape to set the cells
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: bending machine technique

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

John, I thought you brought it to 325°, and let it stay for 15 min. You bring it to 375°?
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
tippie53
Posts: 7011
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: bending machine technique

Post by tippie53 »

yes I hold at 275F for 15 min to dry out the set Take it to 375 to set the bends
if you take it out too soon the wood springs back a good bit
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: bending machine technique

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Thanks John.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
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