Official Luthiers Forum!

The baking of tops has been well covered, however are folks baking backs for the same crack prevention qualities? Any words of wisdom from those who do, or have tried it? Thinking cocobolo, wenge, ziricote and af. Blackwood in particular. The sides obviously get baked in bending, but would they benefit from a longer duration?

Personally, I don't think the sides are an issue. I did notice some color bleeding onto the binding on the back of last BR guitar I built. This was from spraying the first coat of nitro on the bare wood (I don't use sealer). I got no bleeding from the sides, which were cut from the same board. That tells me that steam bending of the sides has some benefit.....at least in regard to finishing, if nothing else.
I would follow Martin's lead and heat the backs some, just to drive out some of the oil. In the old days, the story goes that Martin would lay the rosewood backs on a metal plate heated by the steam radiators upstairs in the old factory.

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John

I just solved this problem by moving to Arizona. Can't wait until I hear my first "baked" guitar here. Problem solved by landing on the surface of the sun!

Check out this use for baking wood....
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum ... ance/page7