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Steam bent headstock?
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=41483		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Steven Bollman [ Tue Sep 24, 2013 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Steam bent headstock?
Years ago I made a chair with steam-bent oak. I don't think I've ever seen a headstock/neck joint that was steam-bent. Have any of you? Seems like it should be doable and would alleviate the issues that come with short grain headstock breakage.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Sep 24, 2013 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Perhaps it would work. I suppose you would bend the neck blank then cut away the surface of the peghed to create the peghead face angle (you wouldn't want it to be curved behind the nut instead of flat). You would also have to true up the fretboard gluing surface after the bend. it seems like it would be as much work as preparing a scarf joint without having to do the bend.
Author:  nyazzip [ Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
i bet that could look really cool !
you should try it
Author:  cphanna [ Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
I think Bryan has it figured out very well. Sure, it could be done, but I agree that it would be more work than necessary, without enough gain in strength to justify the effort. If grain direction is the concern here, then I'd recommend searching through boards to find a natural bend in grain that could be incorporated into the neck/headstock angle, as is commonly done in shotgun wrists or even in historic ship timbers. In the meantime, I have no problem using the traditional methods.
Patrick
Author:  the Padma [ Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Ya...is doable...me gonna...um.... no.

Yo do, post pics please.
Author:  twick [ Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
the Padma wrote:
Ya...is doable...me gonna...um.... no.

Yo do, post pics please.

If it was a laminated neck it would be pretty easy. I would think it look pretty cool too!
Author:  John Arnold [ Thu Sep 26, 2013 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
It is very difficult to bend wood that thick. Even if you were successful, the string tension would tend to straighten the peghead angle over time. Glue lamination would work fine.
Author:  nyazzip [ Thu Sep 26, 2013 1:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Quote:
the string tension would tend to straighten the peghead angle over time.

i was wondering about that....could be an ongoing tuning nightmare
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Steam bent furniture doesn't seem to have a problem staying bent.
I'm sure that it would work for a headstock.
I'd like to see you try it!
Author:  Kent Chasson [ Thu Sep 26, 2013 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Steven Bollman wrote:
Years ago I made a chair with steam-bent oak. I don't think I've ever seen a headstock/neck joint that was steam-bent. Have any of you? Seems like it should be doable and would alleviate the issues that come with short grain headstock breakage.


If short grain is really the reason, a scarf joint would be much easier with no unknowns. They are plenty strong....

Image
Author:  Jim Watts [ Thu Sep 26, 2013 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Kent, I think it'll move better with wheels on it! :)
Author:  Spyder [ Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
OK, so the sharp angle is a problem, how about a natural curve? Use a slotted head stock, let it curve away from the nut then curve back up. Do the whole thing in one big graceful, organic curve. Why does the head stock need to be flat?

Probably wouldn't work, but a neat idea to think about.
Author:  Kevin Waldron [ Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
You might look at compression bending.

Here is one company and there are several more that can do this kind of bending. Drum companies have been doing compression bending for a while, interesting technology.

http://www.puretimber.com/discover-extr ... d-bending/

Blessings,

Kevin
Author:  John Arnold [ Fri Sep 27, 2013 5:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Quote:
Steam bent furniture doesn't seem to have a problem staying bent.

Furniture is not under the constant stress of up to 200 pounds of string tension trying to straighten it. Steam bending permanently weakens the wood, so there may not be not much actual advantage from reducing the runout of an angled peghead.
Oak, beech and ash are woods specifically chosen for bent furniture because they are easy to bend. They also are denser than mahogany, and will increase the weight of an acoustic guitar...especially on the neck end.
Author:  Kent Chasson [ Fri Sep 27, 2013 11:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
Jim Watts wrote:
Kent, I think it'll move better with wheels on it! :)


These days, the slow, the better...
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steam bent headstock?
The peghead doesn't necessarily need to be flat but I would guess you would have to use a slot head. I think I sounded more negative than I intended to in my earlier post. I meant to convey that if you wre doing it solely to eliminate short grain, there are easier ways to go about it. If you want do do something that will look very nontraditional you could have a bend behind the nut (as long as you keep the FB surface true. I'm not sure how much of an angle you would be able to get before the strings no longer clear the bend (it will be wider than the sharp angle normally used). If done well this could look really cool on a nontraditional instrument with other more "organic" elements. I'm picturing an archtop with some carvings and other artistry.
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