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Last winter was my first experience using Honduran Rosewood,sides bent very easily and virtually no tarring. The guitar turned out quite well so decided to build another this winter. Bent the sides last week and got a big surprise when I took the sides out of the mold.Close to 50% of both sides of each side was covered with tar.Given the fact that both of these set looked very similar,what is the norm,little tar ,lots of tar or somewhere in the middle.Love this wood and the sound,but not the clean up. Thanks in advance for any info.
Tom.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

By "tar", I assume you mean "oil"?
Quite normal, wait until you bend some cocobolo. The heat in the bending process makes the oil in the wood ooze to the surface through the pores.The oil residue will clean up easily with a scraper, or 80 grit sandpaper. Scraping is easier, and healthier.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Laurent: That's exactly what I mean and did get it cleaned up by scraping but am trying to get a feel for a norm. The two sets were so different ,I found it quite amazing.Thanks for the reply.
Tom.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Todd: I used al foil on the last set and can't remember what on the first. There was lots of tar on the foil when I removed it but just as much on the sides.I don't measure temperature while bending and have bent dozens of sides of other woods with out any trouble. If I use HR again will try kraft paper and see what happens.Or maybe I should just use the non-tar HR. Thanks Todd.
PS There was much more tar showing on my sides and al foil then on the paper. Thanks again.
Tom.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Todd: Thanks for tip.I may have used paper for the first set,tend to use what is at hand. Take care.
Tom.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!