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I have to bend a set of ziricote and I wanted to get input on the preferred temp and thickness. I was thinking .085" and 300*F. I usually bend at 275*F and that has worked for cedar, walnut, koa, and black limba. However, the ziricote is markedly harder and stiffer than the other wood. I bent figured bubinga at 325*F and .075" thick and that worked fine. I have SuperSoft 2 at the ready, so let me know your experiences. I will be bending these sides into an OM if that is important.
Thanks in advance,

Tony

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I have found ziricote very easy to bend with very little spring back. I usually go to 325 for the bending, back off to 275 and cook for about 10 minutes. If the bending takes you much longer than 5 minutes or so, you may want to turn the heat down to 275 before you are finished bending.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

I bent 2 .085" thick Ziricote sets about a month ago, both with tight waists one even had a cutaway and had no issues. I sprayed with supersoft II waited overnight and then sprayed with water, wrapped in craft paper and bent with blanket at 300 deg. then backed off to 250 for 10 minutes. I never change my bending temperature setting on my PID controller from 300 for anything I have bent including figured Bubinga and the Ziricote. So far 20 sets with no breakage or damage.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Thanks Kent and Fred. Looks like I was on the right track.


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PMoMC

Good info Fred and Kent. I am always glad to see the third ingredient included (wood prep, heat and TIMING)

Tony, let us know how it comes out. I will probably bend my only set of ziricote soon now that I have made a new bending machine (inspired by LMI's new gadget)

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

First side is bent. Still in the machine though but it was pretty uneventful. 300 to bend then dropped to 275 for 10 minutes. We shall see if I rushed it or not in a bit.


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PMoMC

A pic:



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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Both sides came out perfectly. Virtually no spring back. Thanks for the help.
The sides were .085" thick when I bent them.


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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I'm fixin to hafta bend a ziricote cutaway. Did it feel like that temp and thickness would work?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I would go thinner on the cut away side, more like .075 to .080. and use the supersoft II

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Can't speak to the cutaway, but at .085" thickness with the SS2, it bent very easily. I am very happy with the results.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC