Thread: Classical guitar - bending the sides

I am also in the planning stages of my first acoustic, so I can't give you actual experience. As a start though have you read these:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...hlight=bending

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...hlight=bending

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...hlight=bending

I plan to try a piece of galv pipe (about 2 inch diameter) held in vice heated with a heat gun, only cause i already have those. You can also use a butane torch such as in the book by Cumpiano. Other option is making or buying a fox style bender using light bulbs for the heat source, I have no instructions on how to make one though sorry.
Good luck!
Cheers
Archer

Hi guys,

There are lots of resources on the web for cheap "Fox" style benders,

http://www.mimf.com/archives/sidebend2.htm
http://www.lint.org/TechNotes/Bending/sidebending.html

This one seems one of the cheapest; http://jcjonesguitars.netfirms.com/sidebend2.htm

There are also lots of home made pipe benders, basically a galv tube with an element or other heat source.

There are also a heap of posts in this form. Search "Side Bending" or "Guitar Sides".

I bought me one as I dont have access to metal working gear, from Gilet in Sydney. Works well but, as you note, expensive.

Sebastiaan

Hi,

I'm not an acoustic builder, but I've heard of people using a bar and puting BBQ charcoal inside to heat up the bar. Probably smoke you out, but I suppose it would work?

Good luck

Peter

Jim williams book has simple destructions on how to build a fox style side bender.
You can get that book from Gilet, or probably borrow it from a library via inter library loan.

I'f you're inexprienced at bending wood I'd recommend taking the effort to make a propper fox style machine, and get it professionally wired with a circuit breaker.

Here are some quickie side bender building links:

http://www.lint.org/TechNotes/lowcostbender.html

http://www.ukuleles.com/BuildingHowTo/sidebend.html

Cheers,
Claire

Luthiers bent sides for years over hot pipes, but make sure that the pipe is not iron or steel as it will stain the side wood terribly. Thick walled aluminum or brass (check with a boat yard) will work fine. Figure out how to support it, and then you can even heat it with a propane torch flame in the pipe. Be sure not to get in front of it, though!

Spanish luthiers would often use a vertical brass pipe with air holes in the bottom and drop alcohol soaked cotton balls in that they lit. Same alcohol they mixed their shellac with and probably nipped on from time to time. Not de-natured!

While I usually use Fox or Doolin-style benders with heat blankets, I also have a brass pipe bender in which I have a heating element that screws into a ceramic light bulb socket. It's great for one-offs or tight sections.

Originally Posted by snadyross

I am building a classical guitar using Macassar mahogany for the sides and back. I'm getting towards the stage where I need to bend the sides to the necessary voluptuous curves. I don't want to invest $200 plus in a bending iron for this project and wondered if there was anyone out there (preferably in or around Adelaide) who had a suitable device which I might be able to use.

Ive got an electric bending iron you can borrow. Im up in Stirling so youll have to take a drive up the freeway to collect it.

Ive also got a thermal blanket jig. You'd have to make up a form to fit same but its not a huge job.

Pm me if youre interested. Im not around home alot at the moment as Im away working but Im sure we can arrange a time to meet up.

Cheers Martin

Have you bent sides before? Ebony is not the easiest wood to bend the first time, and a cracked side is going to cost a bundle. You might consider trying to get some "SuperSoft II", a product that makes wood bending much easier that folks on the "OLF"...the Official Luthiers' Forum...have been having good luck with.

Hi Rick,

Theyve got you flagged as a novice....I think we need to get that changed .

Im trying to work out where the ebony got into this thread. The original post was about bending mahogany. Did I miss something?

I havnt tried Supersoft but know of quite a few people who have had success with the product. I believe its quite often used here in Australia by people into veneering.

Cheers Martin

Oops, my bad! I saw Macassar and my brain went to ebony...

Well, frankly, mahogany isn't the easiest wood to bend either...in spite of all the mahogany guitars out there.