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I got some cool looking flamed koa bindings with laminated purfling from Stewmac for my #7 classical (EIR/WRC). I dry bent all 4 successfully on my homemade bender with heater blanket (350 deg F), tried to do some touch-up with an electric bending iron, snapped the first two, practiced with the broken pieces, successfully touched-up the other two, and glued them to the top. I got six more (so I would have enough for the next guitar) and snapped two more in my bender/heater blanket at the upper bout bend. I'm running low on supplies (plus these suckers are expensive!) and am pausing to see if someone here can give me some advice.
Cheers,
Chris

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use a bit of water , heat 275 to 320 only till you are bent , then 220 to dry out. Also when you take out the binding, how are you taking them out of the bender ? ( 15 minutes max )
I back the waist off a few turns then open the lower bout. The take the waist up a few more turns , the take off the upper bout hold downs.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Thanks John - I'll try a bit of water, a lower temperature, and less time in the bender. I'm not sure I understand the purpose of your removal procedure but I'll certainly give it a try.
Cheers,
Chris

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http://coneryguitars.com

Kill your television!

Yea what John said, just a spritz of water and once hot just bend slow. I amd not sure that is your problem though, particularly if not hearing them snap as you bend. It sounds like taking the the upper bout lose with out taking pressure off the waist bend. That puts to much of the upper bout. Are the bends of the upper bout as it is approaching the waist? Most time not clean break , but crack all way through. If so that is problem and like John said realease pressure on the waist first then lower bout. But with waist released, if forget will still not break upper bout if done before lower bout.

I think they are saying to mind how you take them out of the bender because the piece of spring steel on the bottom wants to straighten out back to flat as you take off pressure, pressing against the inside of the binding and pushing the ends away from each other.

Figured and dark color binding can often be invisibly repaired using CA, even with a total break.

If it's of any comfort, Chris, flamed Koa binding will break if you just look at it wrong.
Bending it to fit F-holes is another challenge.
Nelson

Thanks folks. I'll try again today. Wish me luck.
Cheers,
Chris

_________________
http://coneryguitars.com

Kill your television!