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I'm looking for advice on bending Oregon Myrtle. How difficult/easy is it to work with? What about bending temperatures? I've not worked with it before, but I got a couple of very pretty sets and think they might make nice flamencos.

Thanks,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Unless highly figured it bends easy 275-310 wood dry covered in damp kraft paper or wood light spritz wrapped in aluminum foil. If highly figured you may want to treat with SSII a couple day isn advance and use the same temp and moisture treatments

I have bent two sets over a bending iron and both were easy. The first set, which was fairly curly, was easy to thickness with a hand plane (well, easier than rosewood, for example). You will love working it.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Myrtle makes great FLamencos !
Many of the sets I have have a(highly figured) twisting grain pattern much like African Mahogany.
So bending can be a problem'I treat it like MDP has already written.
Also some Myrtle is more brittle and splits easy.
Take your time and go slow.
Mike

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Mike Collins

Myrtle is one of the easiest woods to bend. I bend at 300 degrees and regardless of figure it bends like walnut. Great stuff too...

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

yes, my experience is like Peter's.
easy easy to bend.
love the stuff!

steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Thanks, everyone for your input.

Mike Collins wrote,

Mike, could you tell more about your experience with making flamencos from myrtle? How would you characterize a flamenco made from myrtle as compared to cypress?

Thanks,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan