Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi - I am bending some cherry sides today and I just realized I don't know what temperature I should take it up to, how long I should hold it at the temperature and how long I should leave it in the fox bender to cool.

I am using a heating blanket

Any help would be appreciated

Regards John

John, I mist my sides pretty well, wrap them in Kraft paper and wet the paper thoroughly, place it in the bender as steel slat-wood-blanket-steel slat. I heat until it starts sizzling then bend so it is around 212 F or 100 C. The wood doesn't have to be super hot if you have steam. Cherry bends so easy, at least the American black cherry does. I've made three guitars from it and love to work with it. It also doesn't have to be pore filled. One set of sides I did, I forgot to thin them down and bent at a full 1/8 inch. Still bent like butter.


Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Hi Ron

Many thanks, I have been staring at my rig for the past hour waiting for an answer (;-)

Once it has bent how long do I wait to take it out of the bender?

John

From what I have found out most guy let the side cool down to room themp. Then cook your side again. Run it back up to 300 and shut it down then once it's cooled you can take it out. Worked great for me and the bubinga sides I just bent. Very little springback.

Pretty much what Paul said. Once bent I shut it down and let it cool at least to where I can hold my hand on it, then I heat it again. If I'm not in a hurry I will leave it in the bender overnight, but that isn't necessary if you have a form to put it in. When it is cool enough to handle take it from the bender and put it in your form and let it cool there. You'll probably get some spring back but it won't matter.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......