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RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to estebanana)
As far as bending the sides, you need to apply heat to them as you're bending. Be it a silicone heating blanket, old toaster element, light bulb, what have you.
I would suggest getting set up with a pipe/bending iron that you can get to about 350 - 400 degress Farenheit (you can buy a bending iron for $200 or so or devise some safe way of heating a pipe). Even if you bend over a form you still have to use a hot pipe or iron to refine the shape as there will be springback in my experience.
You can do the bending completely with that iron but be forewarned it can drive a man insane until you get some practice at it.
RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to cRobson12)
quote:
When I get the the full scale plans I am going to make the jig for the sides. I don't think I need any fancy equipment, could I just put them in hot water for lets say an hour, put them on the jig and apply even pressure until its in shape?
No, no, bend with very little water. Most people have learned that soaking is not needed and causes other problems.
The wood bends quite well with a spritz bottle of water which you use to mist water onto the sides and then apply heat. The heat turns the water into steam and that penetrates the ribs and softens the wood. When the wood cools in that position which you bend it to, it holds the bend.
RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to cRobson12)
Thanks for the informations.
What do you guys think about this - using one of them flat irons for straightening hair? They go up to about 280 degrees farenheit. Or a shirt iron? ... I guess I could stick with that lightbulb trick but it's fun brainstorming
Alright thanks Estebanana, good thing I asked about this. I was just going to put them in hot water because it made sense to me .
This seems like it is the most difficult part of the building process, especially when you don't have the proper equipment. What do you guys think is the most difficult part?
RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to cRobson12)
quote:
What do you guys think is the most difficult part?
If you hand bend sides, that's definitely up there... otherwise rosette making, French polishing, bindings + purflings are tricky at first... oh and SELLING THE DAMN THINGS! haha
RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to cRobson12)
quote:
What do you guys think is the most difficult part?
Not rushing!!! I can't stress this enough. Take your time. It is very easy to get excited as you near completion of a certain part and out of excitement you rush. Rushing is where mistakes happen. Measure twice, cut once! Take your time and watch your creation come to life.
RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
I have a friend who's built about a jillion lutes and he still uses a piece of black pipe in a vice which he heats with a small butane torch. You could possibly do that, but you have to be really careful to not scorch your ribs of yourself.
This is another of those times when practice on scrap wood makes a lot of sense and saves a lot of heartache. Perhaps your school has a small torch or you can get one for 20 dollars and then a 12" section of steel pipe or aluminum ( not galvanized) about 2" to 3" in diameter.
Then dimension some oak or ash or some cheap hard wood scrap laying around the shop to 2mm thick and roughly the size of your ribs. Then practice bending it. You want your iron to be around 250 - 300 degrees F. so that if you spray water on it, the water turns to steam on the spot. If this sounds reasonable we can go farther into it, but I and probably others would advise practice on scrap until you feel you want to try your ribs.
RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
The massive slots are because I use a wedge system to put my sides in. locks them in nice an tight!
For bending a bending Iron is probably your best bet. not too much water as this tends to contribute to the sides ripling. expensive though.
I'm not sure there is a hard part to guitar making. Everything is pretty simple in terms of joinery. I'm not too good at having to design ideas. It took me at least 3 hours to come up with the design of the head for the 10 String I posted on another thread.
RE: The challenge issued by my scho... (in reply to Andy Culpepper)
Sorry I haven't been posting pictures. The neck is done, I just have to get wood for the body and i have been waiting for a few weeks to find some time to head down to the woodstore that is 1 and a half hours away from me.
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