Bending hint

[sawdustdave]

OK, this is my first guitar....

Walnut, Spruce top, etc....

I soaked the sides for a couple of hours before bending. But the waist bend wanted to "tear out", ie, the grain would not bend on the inside like it ought. I then bent a couple of pieces of walnut, only sprayed the wood with water, before bending. Bent really well....

So... what did I learn? Bend samples first. Too much water may be a bad thing. But, above all. test first!


Dave

[tippie53]

No need to soak , we could have told you that . It isn't so much the water that makes them bend it is the heat . The water is more an anti scorch agent to help the wood bend before the cells harden

[tippie53]

wood choice is the hardest part to learn . Good wood will bend well and learning the heat that works the best for the different woods will come with time and patience .

[naccoachbob]

Someone said (here or at another forum) that we spend a lot of time and energy to get the water out of the wood, so it's kind of counterproductive to introduce a lot back in by soaking. Of course, I've seen where experienced luthiers have done just that, re-introduced the water.
But I'm with John, use enough to prevent scorching.
Bob

[CET]

Hot steam quickly distributes heat through the wood. It only takes a little water on the surface of the wood to generate the needed steam. Too much water, as you get with soaking, can cause distortion problems, and isn't necessary.

[tippie53]

True the less water the bender Cedar bends very well some woods like Mahogany , Paduck and Maple need more heat . The amount of water used is slight . I actually spray paper with the water that keeps the steam heating the wood.
Too much water is very problematic . Steam bending is also an old way to bend larger pieces but on Maple and Mahogany can cause the wood to continue bending as the cells loose moisture . My best advice is to keep a log on the woods you bend . Highly figured woods have their own set of problems.