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I have only built one accoustic several years ago before joining here. I remember soaking the sides overnight (possibly after reading Irving Sloan)before successful bending. Indian Rosewood .Not heard any mention of that here. Anyone else soak?

I know one guy who use to steam really hot and then take them direct to te mold. But don't need to do that and wouldn't. He did have major problems in the long run. You don't really need to do more than light spritz of water and then bend. Faster and less problems. Lot of archive post on bending and some do with steam or soaking

Greetings Islander;

I don't know what others do for certain woods, but I have never soaked any overnight. I have found that E.I.R. (on an pipe bender) is easy to manipulate when dry and brought up to the right temp. On some stubborn woods I use a soaked rag over the iron to assist in steam, but even maple I bend dry on the pipe. the worst woods for bending I've found were padauk and high figured bubinga, and these I spritzed with water and using the soaked rag to high temps, (not sure what the actual temp is) still managed a tight radius with out any cracks. But if a fox style bender is your medicine, I really can't say if others soak overnight.
HTH-N.C.

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Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com

What my friend Stan said.

These days I rarely hear of anyone soaking. However..... I just read in this quarter's excellent Fret board Journal that Jeff Tragott will soak very old BRW for 6-7 hours. Also in the book "Clapton's Guitar" Wayne Henderson soaks BRW too.

Mind you in both instances it was about very old BRW and not EIRW or other woods that are commonly used by builders these days.

I just lightly spritz with water, wrap in craft paper, and bend in a Fox style bender with a heat blanket. The entire process takes about 5 minutes.

What are you planning on using to do the bending a heat pipe, Fox or Doolin style bender, bulbs or blanket, etc?

I don't soak anything and believe that the worse thing one can do is introduce more moisture into seasoned wood that took so long to get there. It is the temperature that aids the bending, not the steam. The light moisture that is normally applied to bending sides is only to prevent scorching. I know several builders that use mainly BRW and they don't soak them at all.... only lightly spritz.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

For me it will have to be the vise, pipe, and blowtorch rig.

NO SOAK FOR YOU!



Only spritz!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

There's no need to soak wood to get good bends. A few guys have done it over the years and
have had no better or even different results than those who bend with a light spray of water on the
surface of the sides.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Unless I read that wrong, a good portion of his wood is case hardened. I think that and the epoxy squeegee coat are hedges against cracking.

I have bent a good deal of BRW on the Fox bender with very little moisture. I haven't cracked a side yet, even for tight venetian cutaways. The only trick I find is make sure it is plenty hot before you start bending.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Since I am more accurate in the thickness at 0.09 I am happier with the bending process. I do wrap in kraft brown paper and spritz the outside od the paper using a Fox style bender. Some woods like koa seem to discolor if wet.

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

I use thin cotton (think T-shirt). Spritz that. Both sides. Then sandwich between two steel slats. No stains. Perfect bends.

Mike

Whoa......the Guitar Nazi!!

Thanks Larry! Glad you didn't post a pic of the shrinkage episode.....

I bend on average 4 to 6 sets a week. I bend everything from African mahogany to ziricote . I stopped soaking pretty much after the first attempt. As was mentioned , heat control is the key. Some woods hate water and bend better dry. Figured woods do need some water to avoid case hardening before you set the bend. You need to be able to tell if your wood is case hardened or not.
A good temp would be in the 350 to 375 range. Some woods like Paduck will need more heat. Getting wood too thing will make bending a snap but warpage will be a problem. I find .085 to .090 is my target. Most rosewoods bend very well . Also if you take longer than 6 minutes you are going to slow using a bender. I am for the most part complete the actual bend process is 3 to 4 minutes.
Now as to how much moisture , I use a very light dampening. Much like to cleaning a window. I don't use supersoft or any conditioner. I also do not place the heat blanket against the wood but use it to heat the steel to heat the wood.
Bending is actually a simple process and one that is easily mastered.
john hall
blues creek guitars

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it