Parlor Guitar

[tippie53]

ca would do the trick here and a lot of the will go away as you do the binding. Use a small clamp to close you be fine

[John Reid]

Thanks John! That’s reassuring.

[John Reid]

I closed the box on the first of these parlors and that went fine. See the photo.

Then I bent one of the sides on the next guitar and it had major splitting in 3 places. The split at the upper bout bend was significant. I didn’t think I could keep going as it was. Before giving up, I took a shot at unbending it with an iron thinking maybe I could load the crack with glue and sanding dust and re-bend, but it was too badly split and just came apart as shown.

Trying to learn something, I tried to figure out what went wrong, keeping in mind the crack I had on the previous guitar. Here’s what I came up with: I don’t think I thinned the sides enough before bending. I only went to 0.100”. Also, the bend on the upper bout of this parlor design is sharper than I’ve bent before, so maybe I needed to get it a bit hotter or add a bit more moisture? I bend the upper bout at about 270F.

I still had the second side, and although I couldn’t use it on this guitar, I experimented a bit. I thinned it to 0.080”. That worked much better, but there still was a crack in the same place. Not a bad one, but it was there.

Along with any comments anyone wants to make, I’m now trying to find a place where I can buy just some sides only. Madaras Barber has a lot, but the shipping is $100! At this point, the best I’ve been able to find is from Exotic Woods, but I’d have to get a back & sides set. Of course, I can’t exactly match what I have for the back, Madagascar Rosewood, but I think Indian Rosewood would work. Any suggestions?

[MaineGeezer]

I think this place: https://www.rarewoodsusa.com/shop/?_woo ... ument-wood may have some. If you don't see it on the web site, ask them. They have a mind-boggling assortment.

[Stray Feathers]

I had a similar problem with an Ovangkol ukulele set. When LMI was still in business, I downloaded a lengthy guide to side bending from their site. They said even the "experts" in their own shop sometimes had problems. But one thing that I thought fit in my case was that it is possible to be too slow in the bending process. This can allow the wood to dry too much, and crack.

Sorry I can't help you with your rosewood - I guess you will have to source it in the US? Bruce W.

[tippie53]

if you using a bending machine you should be bending at 250F use windex with ammonia D
sides should be .075in
and use the bending library we have on you tube

[John Reid]

Thanks for all the input.

MaineGeezer: I quickly checked out rarewoodsusa and didn’t find what I wanted, but I will contact them.

Stray Feathers: Thanks for those ideas. This is the 6th guitar and the first to have such a major crack. It’s making me gun shy and nervous. Am I going too fast…to slow…?

John: Thanks. I’ll try the ammonia. I know you do that, and I haven’t used that idea yet. Sounds like I’m bending a little too hot?, and a too thick.

[Stray Feathers]

Yes, too fast or too slow? was exactly my reaction too. Bending seems like a brutal thing so you don't want to rush it, but I do think you can be too slow, especially the time between bending the lower bout and then the upper bout. I'm up to 20 instruments total, including guitars and ukes (where did the time go . . .?) and this has been my only problem since I started using a Fox bender, except one set of walnut bindings too. I follow John Hall's methods pretty closely and I think he is pretty clear it should only take four or five minutes. I haven't dared try a cutaway yet . . . Bruce W.

[tippie53]

feel free to call me

[John Reid]

Follow up report.

I was able to get hold of a side set. Indian rosewood. Should be a reasonable match.

This time I planed things a lot thinner. Mostly around 0.080” with the upper bouts and waists 0.070”. Give or take.

Used Windex with ammonia when bending.

Had no problems this time. Very happy to be back on track.

Thanks for all the input, and thanks John, for the encouraging words over the phone…