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I'm building an OM with a florentine cutaway for a friend.   I started with a nice EIR back and side set, only I forgot to check how long the sides needed to be to accomodate the cutaway. I just barely had enough to theoretically do it, with about a 1/4" to spare, not much room for error in bending.

Then I found out it had a crossgrain wind check crack, and I also found out it's hard to handle a 7" long piece on a bending pipe without almost burning myself.

Anyway, all that to ask: Does anyone want to sell me a spare single rosewood side that might be a decently close match to this? I have other rosewood I could probably use, but I hate to split up a set if someone else has an orphan side that I could buy. I really only need enough for the cutaway portion.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I think I have a section of broken side that would match nicely. Perhaps a tad darker and tighter grained, but that would be ideal, methinks. ours for free if it'll do.

Can you e-mail me an accurate photo(accurate color, taken outdoors is ideal) and width needed?

The "trick" the bending soft pieces on a pipe is to clamp some extra wood at each end, and use the clamp as your lever. Ya learn this quickly when bending F-5 mandolin sides <bg>

[QUOTE=Mario]
The "trick" the bending soft pieces on a pipe is to clamp some extra wood at each end, and use the clamp as your lever. Ya learn this quickly when bending F-5 mandolin sides <bg>[/QUOTE]

Hey Mario,

Any chance you have a snapshot of that above mentioned bending technique? Here's where one picture would be worth....

Thanks,

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I'll have to mock up a shot, but yeah, I'll try.

Wow, thanks, Mario. I'll get a good snap when I'm home for lunch today.

I think the sides were 4-1/8" (105mm) wide when I bent them, but that end will get tapered anyway so a little less is okay. I'll double check for the width I'll need.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR