Michael Smith wrote:
You can iron it flat with and iron.
Really? I will give that a try. Have to be sure the wife's not a round. Wouldn't want her thinking I've become proficient with an iron.
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| Potato chip EIR http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=30028 |
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| Author: | jac68984 [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 10:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Potato chip EIR |
I received a couple of very nice sets of EIR about a month or so ago. I am now ready to use one, but there is a problem. My shop is temp and humidity controlled (approx. 45% RH), and the back has been stacked flat under pressure since receiving it. How long should I have to wait before this flattens back out? Is there anyway to speed the process? The other set I received has the same problem, just not to the same degree. The back set at issue has is sawed quarter to flat. Thanks in advance for the advice. |
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| Author: | Michael Smith [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
You can iron it flat with and iron. |
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| Author: | jac68984 [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
I realize I did a poor job describing the problem. I tried to edit the post, but that time has apparently past. Anyway, the set is badly warped. If you were to lay the set on a flat table, at the center, the pieces dome up about 1 inch. Thanks. |
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| Author: | jac68984 [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
Michael Smith wrote: You can iron it flat with and iron. Really? I will give that a try. Have to be sure the wife's not a round. Wouldn't want her thinking I've become proficient with an iron.
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| Author: | WaddyThomson [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
If it's just cupped into a cylindrical type of bend with both edges reasonably even, moisten, lightly, the concave side and put, convex side up, it on a concrete floor. It may flatten itself out. If that doesn't work, Ironing may work. I've had some Cocobolo, that I could not take all of the "potato chipping" out, even with an iron. When thinned, though, it was very manageable, and worked fine for a back. |
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| Author: | Alexandru Marian [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
I would rather forget about it at least 6 more months. |
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| Author: | jac68984 [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
Alexandru Marian wrote: I would rather forget about it at least 6 more months. So would I, but I don't see that as a viable option. I can and probably will wait a month or two, but that is probably the limit. I am starting to stock up on tonewood for the future. So hopefully this becomes less of a problem. Right now, I need to use what I've got or twiddle my thumbs. I'm not a thumb twiddler. |
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| Author: | Alain Moisan [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
How thick is the back? If it's about 3/16" or more, you will have a problem ironing out. You will have better results with what Waddy suggested. You can even clamp it between two hard boards (plywood would work fine). Go gently on the clamping, tighthening it every hour or so until the board is flat. Let sit for the night. This worked for me when iI got into the same problem you have. Good luck! |
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| Author: | Glenn LaSalle [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
I had a set of Australian Blackwood Ukulele sides that I had bent, and decided to use a different set. So I ironed them out using an iron, and it worked really well. I also have an EIR set that still is warped after a year being stickered, and I planned on ironing it straight. Glenn |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
There is more than enough great quality EIR around to not buy flat sawn stuff, I am surprised, does it come from a seller on eBay? Conundrum: if it is too thick you can't flatten it with an iron, and you can't pass it through a drum sander without losing a lot of thickness. I'd buy another set, perfectly quartersawn this time, and build with it. It's always best to wait as long as you can before building with your tonewood. If it's not an option, buy well cut and well seasoned wood from a reputable dealer. |
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| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 1:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
I would return a set that had severe racking as you describe. |
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| Author: | jac68984 [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 2:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
Thanks for the comments. The wood came from a very reputable tonewood supplier. I let the guy I'm building for select the set he wanted. While I wasn't too pleased with the selection, I figured it would work. It is more quartered than flat sawn, and I've used similar stuff before. I imagine with some time, the set will flatten out. I will try wetting the concave side per the advice above, before ironing. I will also be much more hesitant to buy anything but perfectly quartered EIR in the future. Related Question: How flat is flat enough? Once the back is taken down to thickness, there is a fair amount of flex. Is it acceptable to just force the back plate into braces and clamp to the sides? I would think it would take a pretty fair amount of torque coming from the back to cause problems, but my experience is limited. |
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| Author: | Alain Moisan [ Mon Nov 22, 2010 2:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
jac68984 wrote: Is it acceptable to just force the back plate into braces and clamp to the sides? Absolutely. If you can flatten the back with simple finger pressure, don't worry about it and brace the thing up! |
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| Author: | woody b [ Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Potato chip EIR |
Quote: I would think it would take a pretty fair amount of torque coming from the back to cause problems, but my experience is limited. It's not the torque coming from the back that causes problems. The reason it curves is because it's shrinking. If it's braced, then shrinks it will crack. Without looking at, and feeling the back I can't say whether it's OK or not...............and I'm not an expert anyway. I'd recommend weighing it. Wait a week and weigh it again. If the weight changes it's still.....moving. If the weight stays the same for a week try ironing it flat and see what happens. I understand that you don't want to twiddle your thumbs for 6 months, but I doubt you want to be repairing cracks in the future either. Don't use any wood until it's ready to be used. |
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