Bending cherry revisited
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2022 11:48 am
I'd like to get your opinions on these sets of cherry. I fell for the wild grain pattern in this local cherry I picked up at https://www.indyurbanhardwood.com/. A great new lumberyard in Indianapolis that uses local downed and donated trees, mills and kiln dries on site. Prices seem very reasonable.
I started with two 4/4 boards that were cut from the same trunk. I re-sawed both so now have two matching sets of book-matched cherry. The question is regarding the gap/crack in the grain line. I filled it with West systems epoxy and let it cure then ran it through the drum sander a few times. It still needs more sanding to bring it to proper thickness. I would think this would be fine for a guitar back but would you think it will hold together in a bender as a set of sides?
The gap is about 4" from the waist towards the lower bout so that particular spot won't have to bend much. I'm just wondering if the epoxy will hold that section together or if it will certainly fray apart under the bender.
Only one way to find out for sure but if you all think it would fail, then I could just use this a back and try to find some more, similar cherry for sides. It will be an 0 sized guitar so that epoxy fill will cut right across the entire side. Visually, I like it and don't mind the epoxy fill but not sure if I'll end up w/ scrap.
you can see the prices in chalk on the boards I picked up. 4/4 cherry and walnut, 8/4 box elder.
I started with two 4/4 boards that were cut from the same trunk. I re-sawed both so now have two matching sets of book-matched cherry. The question is regarding the gap/crack in the grain line. I filled it with West systems epoxy and let it cure then ran it through the drum sander a few times. It still needs more sanding to bring it to proper thickness. I would think this would be fine for a guitar back but would you think it will hold together in a bender as a set of sides?
The gap is about 4" from the waist towards the lower bout so that particular spot won't have to bend much. I'm just wondering if the epoxy will hold that section together or if it will certainly fray apart under the bender.
Only one way to find out for sure but if you all think it would fail, then I could just use this a back and try to find some more, similar cherry for sides. It will be an 0 sized guitar so that epoxy fill will cut right across the entire side. Visually, I like it and don't mind the epoxy fill but not sure if I'll end up w/ scrap.
you can see the prices in chalk on the boards I picked up. 4/4 cherry and walnut, 8/4 box elder.