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Mike:
Are you bending both sides at once?
Are you using a blanket or light bulbs for heat or is that a holding jig?

If you think that your bench is messy you would scream at mine.

Those sides look good.

Bob

That is not even close to a messy bench

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Bob,

I'm bending them one at a time with a heating blanket. Since sycamore is light in color, I was a bit worried about burning so I sandwiched it (form the bottom) bending form, stainless slat, heating blanket, side wrapped in paper towel, stainless slat. I started bending around 240F and then took it up to 280F-290F for about 3o min, let it cool and then took it back up to 290F and unplugged it for good and removed the next morning. The side were thinned to just under .090" (oops) and are 46" x 3.75". They bent without cracking and with little spring back. Success! I always like touch them up on a pipe and now they fit the mold just fine, not perfect, but just fine. I don't like to have to force them into shape... The clamps are there for security, as they will have to sit until I can can steal an hour or two again.




Steve, Yeah know it's not that messy. But I usually like to tidy up a bit. Ha. I'll work on it...

If you have any other questions I'll be happy to let you know my experience. I'm documenting these two instruments pretty extensively and love to share.

Best,
_Mike

_________________
_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
https://www.instagram.com/mustcreatethings/
https://www.youtube.com/mustcreatethings

Haha, nope.
Back from my 72 hour build-a-thon with probably all of 12 hours sleep: