O'Brien Guitars - Luthier Tips du Jour - Side bending by hand

[Shinando57]

Robert, what do you think to make a video building a bending iron? Because here in Brazil, for example, you probably know how hard is to find it available to purchase. If you like the idea I'd be very appreciated. Keep up the good work!

[OBrienGuitars]

@Shinando57 Nice idea. The problem is I don't know how to make one and probably wouldn't use it if I did. Um abraço

[Shinando57]

@OBrienGuitars Ah, que pena. Com razão, você já deve possuir vários tipos de curvadores. Vou trabalhar para criar um então. Obrigado pela resposta. Grande abraço do Brasil, Robert.

[dwilliss]

I use a pipe that I heat up with a blow torch. I must not be getting as much heat as the iron he's using here because it goes a lot slower. Either that or this video is edited down for time. His bending iron also has a flat side which probably transfers heat better. My first build the sides were not quite symmetrical and I cracked the wood at the waist. The second one came out much better.

[BuickDoc]

Why do luthiers use this method rather than a steam cabinet like boat builders use?

[OBrienGuitars]

@BuickDoc perhaps because the wood is much thinner. No steam or moisture required. I bent guitar sides dry for years with no problem.

[Hoopermazing]

That was very informative. 

[JustWonderingHowToDo]

Are the videos that you are showing here part of a DVD. I found some DVD's over at apprenticepublishing but it seems to me by the description of them that they are a collection of still images and not really movies.

[OBrienGuitars]

Those dvd's I did are still shots wih audio overdubbing. This way I could be very precise with the instructions and images. No machine noise or wasted time watching me se up things. They are complete start to finish instrucions for building classical or steel string guitars. The reviews are very positive.

[OBrienGuitars]

I have not made a DVD of my Youtube videos yet. Perhaps one day I will.

[HRRLutherie]

I'm using a heat gun at 500C, do you that that's enough heat?

[HRRLutherie]

I've made a jig from a heat gun held in a drill press vice that heats up a steel pipe in an engineers vice. It works nicely but I'm going to use a narrower pipe.

Thankyou

[cornflakesnwater]

awesome.!!..Happy New year...  *\o/*

[fairbanksave]

Could this be right? He only uses water for steam in the rag on the waist and no water at all in the bout area? Bending without water?

[OBrienGuitars]

I did it for years while bending by hand. When I started using a bending machine I moisten the sides cause I can no longer feel them but I can certainly hear that water sizzle. Find a way that works for you.

[luthierboy]

I made my bending iron using a 1' piece of pipe, the element from a goodwill waffle iron, a dimmer switch, and some square stock that I made into legs. Total cost: about $8.00

[OBrienGuitars]

Sure, I used a pipe with charcoal in it for years and it worked great. You can also use a pipe with a propane torch for heat. The commercial bending iron I use in the video is available in European voltage as well.

[iamnorwegian]

Is there anything I can use instead of that iron? any techniques that you can do without special equipment`?

[peybak]

wow. You make it look so easy! Thanks for the vidoes btw.

[bearwoodcarpentry]

no harm in practising on thinned lengths of softwood jdepp11 gives you a good feel for the process with no wasted money go for it

[jdepp11]

Easily the best tutorial on side bending (and the most helpful guitar building tutorial overall for me). I have been very concerned about this part of the building process. One wrong move and my sides are trash...

Thanks for sharing and keep the information coming!