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Is it better to NOT use Super Soft on figured wood? I understand that soaking figured wood is not a good idea and I figure using Super Soft is like soaking... I'm getting ready to bend some figured maple binding in a bender for the L-00 I'm currently working on and I plan to use some figured bubinga for my next one. I've not tried to bend these figured woods before...
Thanks,
Steve

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I'm just getting used to the stuff, but have found it very handy indeed on figured wood. One student had cut some very curly maple for binding, and the first set broke as soon as we tried to bend it. WE wet down another set of the same wood with SS, wrapped it in plastic for a couple of hours, and it bent perfectly. Works for me...

My very first experience with SSII was this summer (also with the curly maple binding on an L-00). I was dreading bending curly binding around the cutaway, so I ordered some SSII. I sprayed it on one evening and bent the next. I’m pretty sure fairy dust is one of the ingredients. The very next instrument was a mando with curly maple sides; I didn’t hesitate to use it on these sides and they bent on the hot pipe without issue. It almost felt like cheating.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I'm glad to hear it works because I have this set of the tree mahogany...I cut the extra width from the sides and tried to bend it at 2mm. It broke immediately. Thinned to 1.7mm, same. Tried 1.3mm....I bent most of the remaining and then again snapped. So no way trying the actual sides without SS.

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Build log

With expensive (problematic) wood, it wouln't hurt to practice the process with the SSII also. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Thanks guys. I just thought I'd ask what the prevaling opinion was. An earlier post indicated that soaking doesn't work well when bending figured wood... I've used SSII with success in the past however... I'll go ahead and plan to use it again...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Great product and cheap insurance on figured wood, I have used it on Quilted mahogany, Highly figured bubinga and a couple sets of Zircote. Rosewoods don't need any help but if I am not sure I used it.

Fred

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

I appreciate this discussion.
I've got to make some tight radius bends with thin wood binding around a headstock.
Sounds like Super Soft is the answer.
Where do you buy it?

Ken Grunst
Williamsburg, VA

Buy it here http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Super-Soft-2-Veneer-Softener-Conditioner.html

Bob

The stuff is really great. I was having problems bending Spalted Mango purflings on my last, and hit it with SuperSoft and it bent like butter. I had the stuff, but the purfs were only about 1.5mm so I though it would bend easily. WRONG!

SSII is also available at Highland Woodworking. Search for "Super-Soft 2".

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I use fabric conditioner if the sides look like they'll be trouble. About 20 mins in hot water/fabric conditioner 70/30.

nigel
http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/#/book/4568936095

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nigel

http://www.theluthierblog.com