Official Luthiers Forum!

Without sounding too stunned, what is super soft , and where can it be purchased

pretty much all answers can be found here:

http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info.php?products_id=616

I guess you can buy it anywhere you can buy veneer...maybe even in your local Home Depot

Christian

Thanx Christian for the info , can't believe I didn't know about this stuff, haven't seen it in...ha ha guess I've been building too long in the dungeon,

Question...what is the thickest piece anyone has successfully used this on? Would it be useful for doing laminated sides?

-Matthew

Hi Matthew,

now this is only a very vague memory on my part, and I may very well be wrong, but I think classical builders in the Australian/Smallman tradition use 5 or 7 sheets of high-quality veneer for their sides, and I think I remember, that some don't use side benders but just bend the veneers (probably with Super Soft) and laminate them in the mold.
Again, this is a vague memory, so please don't take it as a fact...
I have no idea whether it would work with thicker pieces...

Christian

Good question...what about using it on sides that are thicknessed, to 90-95 thou, like Bubinga ? do you have to saturate the wood to soften the sides throughly? Never had any real problems bending, just interested in this wood softener stuff.

I've used it on many difficult sides @ .090" and never broke one in 3 years.

Spray it on lightly. Allow to sit for 24 hours. Bend as normal using minimal water. I heat Bubinga to 300*.

Good luck!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

cool...will have to try it...thanx for the info J.J.

Would this stuff help if you're bending sides with a heating iron?

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

Would this stuff help if you're bending sides with a heating iron?

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

Not sure Ken, but it probably would help...others may have better info on hand bending. I've only ever used it on the Fox bender.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Be careful if you are using SS on maple. It will stain maple

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John Ressler

I have only used it on Australian Lace Wood, but it worked fine on a hand bender. I did as JJ said. Spray it on, let it dry, overnight, spritz and bend.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

The SS supplier says a spritz on both sides then dry overnight. This is the instruction for a veneer. I am wondering if more than a light spritz would be needed to fully penetrate a side in the .085 to .095 thickness range. I have tried it both ways and seem to have good results with more but this could just be euphoric recall.

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GEO
perpetual beginner

Good stuff for figures woods but it will bleach Koa. Beware.

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

Yes, it does take the color out of some woods. I used it on pau ferro binding. I soaked it in supersoft, dried it then bent. Those pieces never again matched the backstrip I had cut from the same stock.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust