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I would really like to try wood binding on my next Martin jumbo kit guitar, probably Koa and was wondering if there is any way to get it bent without a bending machine or perhaps a really simple method and simple set-up?

Thanks

Larry

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You can bend with out a bending maching by using a hunk of 3" muffler pipe and a propane torch. Bending with out heat, not so sure about that.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Binding or bending??? With out heat hummmmmm??? The only way I know to bend wood without heat is ammonia and that opens up a big can or worm. both enviromental health and wood staining. you can build a simple bending form with Plywood and lights for heat for about $25 or you can bend on pipe for about the same when you figure a backing slat.MichaelP38727.6538888889

OK so that was 6 minutes without a reply - this forum rules.

I have a great mold from Blues Creek Guitars I bet I'm not that far from a simple set-up with light bulbs? 200 watts and a couple of stainless steel clamps and I bet I'm in htere?

Larry

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I am skeptical that it can be bent enough for binding without heat... but maybe if you have a VERY boxy dread and you are using holly thinned way down you might be able to get it to happen.

I would just get a pipe and use that though.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Let me give you a sugestion that I took back when I was on light bulbs before I went blanket. hook your light bulbs up through dimmer switches, A seprate dimmer switch for each bulb. I used 200w on the lower bout, 150w on the upper bout and 100w on the waist. All clear glass bulbs by the way. To pre heat I ran them all at full till the temp of the wood reached about 220f then turned down to 3/4 open on all the dimmers. when the wood reached bending temp (typ 260-300) I bent the lower bout first, then turned down the lower bout dimmer to 1/2 open. Then I bent the upper bout then turned the upper bout dimmer down to 1/2 open. Then bent the waist then turned off the waist dimmer. I then allowed the wood to cook for 10 min then turned all off and allowed the wood to cool clamped in the form over night. This eliminated a lot of risk of scortching the waist and upper bout, which can be an issue when bending with bulbs due to un even heat distrubition.

That said for $120 you can set up to bend with a blanket and have no problems with un even heat-up.MichaelP38727.6976967593

have Martin supply the bent binding, no big deal

Koa won't bend without heat, especially if there is figure. It will fracture. For
bindings you can try bending on a 45w soldering iron "tube", after soaking
the bindings in water for a few minutes. Works fine.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Larry I will be neiborly here, if all you really want is binding bent for a Martin size Dreanaught I will bend it and ship it to you, One time no charge for the service just the cost of bindings and shipping, but Terry is right Martin will bend up some curly Koa bindings for you to ship with the kit or seperate at an additional charge. That is assuming you are buying the kit from Martin. If you are buying the kit from John Hall I am pretty sure he will do it for you as well. LMI does not allow substitusion on their serviced kits. BummerMichaelP38727.7087615741

Michael, That is beyond generous and so appreciate the offer but the more I think about it the easier it seems it will be and since I have a mold already and can set up a pipe and torch or light bulb very easily I'm going for it. I just ordered the binding from StewMac and will play at bending wood.

I didn't know there were places that would bend binding for you, thanks for the heads up everyone.

Larry

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[QUOTE=MichaelP] Larry I will be neiborly here, if all you really want is binding bent for a Martin size Dreanaught I will bend it and ship it to you, One time no charge for the service just the cost of bindings and shipping, but Terry is right Martin will bend up some curly Koa bindings for you to ship with the kit or seperate at an additional charge. That is assuming you are buying the kit from Martin. If you are buying the kit from John Hall I am pretty sure he will do it for you as well. LMI does not allow substitusion on their serviced kits. Bummer[/QUOTE]

True.. but you can buy bindings from LMI and have them bend them for you to a desired shape.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Larry, if you haven't bent wood before, you will want to make sure and use a backing "plate" when you bend the koa, or you may experience fracture or complete breaks when binding.

You also may want to cut some cheaper wood and do some test bending, these test pieces don't have to be uniform in the thickness, just close. Cut some strips on the table saw and bend away. You wouldn't want your nice koa to break on the first shot out of the gate.

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[QUOTE=LarryH] OK so that was 6 minutes without a reply - this forum rules.

I have a great mold from Blues Creek Guitars I bet I'm not that far from a simple set-up with light bulbs? 200 watts and a couple of stainless steel clamps and I bet I'm in htere?

Larry[/QUOTE]

Is this an inside or outside mold?

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"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

[QUOTE=Rod True] [QUOTE=LarryH] OK so that was 6 minutes without a reply - this forum rules.

I have a great mold from Blues Creek Guitars I bet I'm not that far from a simple set-up with light bulbs? 200 watts and a couple of stainless steel clamps and I bet I'm in htere?

Larry[/QUOTE]

Is this an inside or outside mold?[/QUOTE]

Inside Rod, maybe not the best but doable?

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The inside mold is the one that you need for bending sides and binding. so if you got it from John, it will be the best and totally do-able.

Maybe post a pic if you can.

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I'm calling this an inside mold - never seen sides bent on this inside profile before. Is it doable with what I have?

click thumbnail

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This is your outside mold as it holds the outside of the body shape.

If you had a large glued up piece which fit "inside" the body as you see it in your picture, you would have an inside mold.

I bet John would bend the binding for you.

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"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

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If the binding isn't too highly figured, you could soak it in very hot water for about 10 minutes then let it dry around a form. This works for some woods, but I've never bent koa.

Ron

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