The Greatest Source of Wood Bending Information Ever!!

[Darryl Young]

I'll include this for completeness of information (and please, someone correct me if I have it backwards).

The wood fibers compress (crush) on the inside of the bend instead of stretching on the outside of the bend. This info might be useful deciding when/how to sandwich/bend.

[kencierp]

Parchment paper can be found in the baking section of the big box stores.

And you are correct the heat should ideally be applied to the inside of the curve -- which is exactly the reason KMG benders are full aluminum covered forms heated on the inside.

Also, we found that the blankets at times act as a cushion and allow too much material movement. Our process is a "metal-wood-metal" sandwich -- again I just copied "Taylor's" process in a lower tech configuration.

[Tony_in_NYC]

SuperSoft is a veneer softener that is often used to help in bending tough to bend woods.

[Ken Hundley]

I have been wrapping my sides in reynolds tinfoil....keeps the moisture in just great, keeps the wood from staining the sheetmetal. Just spritz, wrap, and bend. Geez, I sound like Martha Stewart.

[tippie53]

I do use Kraft paper but have used white paper towels , butcher paper and many other papers and it all seems to work as long as there are no dyes . The point is that it can be done many ways . Heats will depend on a few factors and not all woods like the same temperatures.
Maple and Mahogany seem to like more heat and less moisture . 350 degrees
Rosewoods bend well for me 275 to 320
Paduck 400 degrees
Ebony well wrapped with wet paper and well moistened heat to 350

Figured woods
Some figured woods can be problematic . Waterfall often will facet no matter what you do

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Did I hear someone say they want some feedback on hand bending on a pipe?

Kevin

[darren]

Did I hear someone say they want some feedback on hand bending on a pipe?

Kevin

heat the pipe till water dances off it (i have a dimmer switch, start at '10' and then back it off to about '6', which keeps it at about 300-315)
use a wet towel over the pipe, under the side(keep it wet-it will smoke when it dries out)
keep the side moving, apply pressure when it starts to relax
i haven't had much success with a metal backer...
wear heavy gloves
It's taken as long as 90 minutes and as short as 20, just depends on how stubborn the wood is
I do two bindings at a time
this has worked with ebony, eir, koa, madrose, and peruvian walnut
I will never bend ebony again. ever.

what else you got Kevin?

[David L]

There are just a few things that I'm really good at, a fair amount of things that I'm fair at, and a whole lot of things that I really suck at, bending wood over an iron falls into the latter! Tried out my new bending iron yesterday using that stewmac practice wood (lightly figured maple). Spent about an hour and a half and here's the results: Bending the lower bout went so-so, took forever, had a slight cupping across the grain but not devastating, Then I flipped it around and started bending the waist and it cupped in multiple directions across the grain, a cross section would look like an "S" with an extra hook to it and that's when I decided to throw in the proverbial towel. The wood that I was using really sucks in-so-much that it is really short, too short for any full sized guitar (don't think that had anything to do with cupping), also the thickness is .100, I think that I should probably be bending at .085 or maybe a little less (may have something to do with cupping, may not, I don't know). Now , due to my lack of foresight, short-term memory loss, or just plain lazyness (all three of which are some of those few things that I'm really good at), I did not consult this thread prior to my futile attempt at bending the wood. I went with wood to iron with the thin stainless backer (stewmac). I tried wrapping the iron with aluminum foil but it wouldn't stay on (kept spinning as I was working the wood across the iron) so in my frustration I wadded it up and threw it away and yes, my iron got stained but it came off with scotch brite. Also because the wood wasn't wrapped in anything it stained as well but it did not concern me as this is merely practice wood and will end up in the round file when I'm done.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hey Darren,
It took me awhile to respond here.
I basically do the same thing on my handmade electric bending pipe.
So far I've done 3 guitars with pretty good success. Palo Escrito, Cocobolo, and Macauaba. The first two I bent thicker than I should have, but they still bent okay.
The Maca I bent at .080" and it bend like a dream.
Pretty much the same MO as you shared. I find if I keep the rag on the pipe wet enough to generate steam, the wood bends pretty easily and I do not wet the wood.
Since I am doing one guitar a year basically, I have to "regain" the technique each time, but that is okay, I really enjoy handling the wood and feeling it give and bend. The smells are great, and the challenge gives way to a real feeling of accomplishment.
I would recommend to everyone you should bend by hand. I think you will appreciate the process.

Kevin