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Last night I decided to stoke up the bending iron and give it a shot. I had put some supersoft 2 onto a practice piece and was ready to give it a shot. Followed a set of instructions I was most comfortable with and just went after it. I pressed the wood against the bending iron and nothing. I remember someone posted that you'll know it when it's ready (Might have been Michael) anyway, I just rested it there with gentle pressure. All of a sudden it just started to move and the first bout was bent, I pulled it back and did the waist the the second bout. Just like that it worked. I popped it into my handy form to hold it while it set and this morning it was near perfect.

I don't know how others felt when they saw and felt that first piece bend, but it's a moment I'll never forget. Other bent wood I've done in the past was a form, layers done wet and glued together, plywood in other words. Kinda brute force. This was so elegant in comparison.

Thanks to all those who submit their thoughts and methods here. Having read so much before progressing really helped this be fun.

Joe

Congratulations, Joe. It is really a pleasure to realize that it will bend if you are just patient. I agree with you about the forum giving you confidence. Or courage, maybe!

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That is a cool feeling.

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I know the feeling, Joe. Just did my first a couple of weeks ago - yaaay!!!

Joe, that's great! Inspirational post, too.

There's nothing like it! I do a fair bit of woodworking but two of the tasks that I enjoy the most are bending wood on a hot iron and carving a neck. Like you Joe, done some of the same, laminated things....... Fun, but not the same.

Happy Bending,
Danny