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Guidance please - bending Amazon Rosewood
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=25593
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Author:  Corky Long [ Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Guidance please - bending Amazon Rosewood

I've bent sodes from silver (soft) maple, black walnut, Koa, and Pau Ferro, by hand, on a pipe heated by a torch. I've used foil to wrap the sides, and have wet them before bending. My experience has been that the difficulty of bending has gone in this order - (soft) maple, black walnut, Koa, and Pau Ferro, with the Pau Ferro being quite resistant to bending (although no problems with cracking.).

What am I in for with the Amazon Rosewood. It seems very hard and dense. Any guidance on technique, if at all different from the others? I do not have a Fox style bender. Still saving up for that tool. Thanks!!

Author:  Alexandru Marian [ Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guidance please - bending Amazon Rosewood

I will start soon one of these as well. My set is extremely hard and dense too so it will be thinned about 10-15% more than what I would do with average Indian/Madagascar. I don't think it will be more difficult than other rosewood. I bend on a pipe and gradually stopped using water all together. Probably in order to avoid breakage you could treat it like ebony. Press very closely to the tangent point using cauls. Free-handing at a distance induces too much leverage for brittle wood.

Author:  patmguitars [ Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guidance please - bending Amazon Rosewood

I bought a set of Amazon Rosewood last year but haven't got around to using it yet. The texture seems very similar to Brazilian Rosewood, which I normally bend on a hot pipe in pretty much the standard way: a bit of water sprayed on and just my gloved hands doing the pressing. I'd be interested to know what those who have had experience are saying. It's a pretty nice wood and with the recent crackdown on importing Brazilian Rosewood that we hear about, it may become the standard replacement! idunno

Pat

Author:  peterm [ Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guidance please - bending Amazon Rosewood

I have bent 2 sets so far. Easy to bend but with a bit of springback if left too thick.
I bend at .080" since its fairly dense and a bit thinner for the cutaway. Overall and easy wood to work with.

Author:  Jon L. Nixon [ Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guidance please - bending Amazon Rosewood

Bent a set last week at.088 with no problems at all.

Author:  CWLiu [ Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guidance please - bending Amazon Rosewood

Like Alex, I also hand-bend my sides with no water. Amazon RW is easier to bend than many EIR at the same thickness. I have an Amazon RW guitar(my first!) is on the belt.

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