Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, I just got a gorgeous set of Black Limba from the Zootman himself and its absolutely beautifull!
This morning before work I decided to bend the cutaway side... thinned to about .080, sprayed, wrapped in paper and placed in the bender. After it got hot enough I unplugged the heating blanket and cranked down part of the waist and the lower bout. Then I plugged it back in to heat it up for the cutaway portion and finish the job.
I turned around to put some stuff away and almost forgot the bending machine was on...

I ran back and the thermometer read 390F and even after I pulled the plug it kept creeping up
I quickly unplugged, bent the side, prayed for the best and went to work. On my way back home I was thinking "gotta email that Zootman dude" and get a couple of sides"
So when I got home, first thing I did was to remove the wood from the bender to see the damage... smelled a little burned to me... BUT it was PERFECT!!!!! not a sign of burning or scorching!!!
Great stuff!

Ever had this happen?
peterm38995.0241782407

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

I make it a point to never do anything else when I'm bending sides because yes it has happened to me. My temp controller has a switch that is full on one way and controlled by the knob in the other. I usually put it full on to get it hot and then switch to the controlled temp when it reachs my target temp. This usually only takes a few minutes during which time I stand there and watch.

Glad your Black Limba came out well, I have a set I'm looking forward to using too.John How38995.0574768518

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I've done that and totally forgot about it until I saw the pillar of smoke
coming from my bender...the mahogany sides were toasted...charred
black....always do one thing at a time..

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Whew Peter you lucked out. Glad the side was OK. Why not invest in a timer? I won't even answer the phone when I'm bending after a shop full of smoke and no timer.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Glad to hear you didn't turn into a fireman and that you kept your sides Peter, i think a timer would be smart too bud!

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Glad to hear you didn't turn into a fireman and that you kept your sides Peter, i think a timer would be smart too bud! [/QUOTE]

Well, our very own Lillian from this forum just offer to supply one...
is she great or waht??

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

Well, so much for doing something quietly.....

I'm happy to share. Its an extra and a toasty shop should be one you can still work in when its cold out, not one you need to rebuild.

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Aoibeann

[QUOTE=Aoibeann] Well, so much for doing something quietly.....
[/QUOTE]

Lillian, I had to share with the family here! peterm38995.777337963

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

[QUOTE=John Mayes] I've done that and totally forgot about it until I saw the pillar of smoke
coming from my bender...[/QUOTE]

Was this during the day? Cause at night it might have been a pillar of fire. You gotta watch out for that kind of thing.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I'll never get bored of being reminded of this type of situation that might occur, Thanks Peter for sharing...

Lillian, you secretive you!

yep at day. It was 6 years ago, and it only happened once....I never bend a side without remembering it....

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I made a set of Sapele bricketes here last year

Maybe we should get into the habit of putting a steak on the top slat when bending. That smell might register before the smoke does. And if not at least you get a barbeque. Works best when bending mesquite

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I have ebonized my share of wood. Here is what I have learned in my years of bending .
   NEVER LEAVE THE THING
LOL
Well I keep a thermomter on and use the controls. A spray bottle is allways near and you can actullay run the heat to 400 degrees . It takes about 7 minutes at 400 to start scorching and most at this point is sandable.

10 minutes and you have a nice set of ebony sides .

15 minutes you have charcoal for the grill

20 minutes and you won't need to take them out just suck your ashes   out with the vaccum

30 minutes and you get to meet the nice guys from the fire company

325 is a good temp for bending and hold it about 3-4 minutes and let cool or use a 200 setting for 10 minutes to dry the wood off. Keeping in mind that you want to keep the wood damp till you start bending. Don't saturate just enough to keep the wood surface damp

john hall

[QUOTE=Don Williams] [QUOTE=John Mayes] I've done that and totally forgot about it until I saw the pillar of smoke
coming from my bender...[/QUOTE]

Was this during the day? Cause at night it might have been a pillar of fire. You gotta watch out for that kind of thing.

[/QUOTE]

I would love to see it at night!! a pillar of fire would look pretty cool!

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

Yes, much better than the pillar of salt sort of thing...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

neither sounds enticing to this gentile...