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Before I make another mistake like I did with the Anigre I would like some tips on bending Macasssar Ebony. It will be for a cutaway and its my first set of Macassar....this stuff is pretty hard.

How thin should I go and what temp?

Thankspeterm38961.0415046296

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

ONe of my students and I bent a set last year, the only one I ahve done. It was a venetian as well. We ahd the sides at 85 everywhere, thinned the cut area to 75 Bent pretty good, a couple small fractures easily repaired. I woudl have taken it down to 70 in retrospect, and instead of using my fox venetian mold, would have done the cut on the pipe. I had jsut made this new mold and it worked great for easier bending woods like EIrw, but this was definitely tougher, and I am better on the pipe now with more practice having found the sweet spot for temp for pretty much any wood. To tell teh difference, I bent one bubinga cut piece, it took about 20 minutes - a few days later after the euphoria discovery, bent another in about 4, and it was way better as far as smoothness and easy of coaxing the shape I really wanted. The first effort, the pipe was too hot - not always what you need.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I have bent one set--like butter.
I think BobC's highly figured Macassar, couldn't resist the beauty, might be a different matter.

[QUOTE=bob J] I have bent one set--like butter.[/QUOTE]

How thick did you bend?


That sounds promising! Thanks peterm38961.7882060185

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

I have bent 3 sets. No problems. Thicknessed the side to 0.85-0.9
Spritzed with water and used craft paper with one of John Halls benders.
Bent at 250-275 degrees.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

One of my current builds is macassar ebony. I bent at .083", water spritzed, aluminum foil, blanket, Fox bender, no problems. Don't know the temperature --- about 2/3 of the way up the knob.      Hot enough to make water droplets sizzle off the slats.

Petern,
I thinned to measurements above but, I believe, I set temp at 300 degrees. Good luck.Don't you love the way Mack rings with its' heavenly bell voice. Frankly, I am some-what surprised it is not used more to build. Everything about the wood is positive. I can not think of any downside.
Look at BobC's website or the 'shed'. He may have pictures of the heavily figured Maccasar. If I was flush, I would have purchased all he had listed.