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I'm bending cocobolo binding this weekend (maybe tonight). Any tips on how to bend or what temp to use?

Is it possibly to bend herringbone purfling (from StewMac) along with the binding? Curious if that is an option; otherwise, I'll probably just use hot water on the herringbone purfling as suggested in a tip from Tom West.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I have used coco a lot, I always tape it tight together side by side in about 6 spots, then wipe it on each side with a damp rag, wrap it in tin foil and bend. I also try to bend 2 or 3 extra pieces so 6 or 7 at a time. That way when you break one, you dont have to get the bender back out

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance I do the same thing except for the tin foil. What does using foil do?

I just bent some a few nights ago. Coco binding is the easiest to bend of any wood I have bent. It doesnt kink easily like some woods and holds its shape well.

I set my pipe to around 310 or so, tape 4 pieces together side by side (usually just tape the ends and at two places in between, and move the tape as you get to that spot on the bend), mist front and back of the strip with water, place on pipe and move slowly, leaving the strips on the pipe until just about the water steams off. Coco has lots of oils and they tend to cook off and blacken the wood easily. This seems to sand and scrape off ok. The oils may smoke so keep a fan on to blow the smoke away. You don't want to breathe that stuff. That's how I do it.

+1 on the hot water for the herringbone works great.

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