Bending Figured Mahogany with Fox Bender Pt.1

Part 1 of 3 videos showing bending process for Fox bender. This is an SJ side in curly mahogany treated with SuperSoft II and bent using the kraft paper/foil technique to minimize blowout associated with too much water. Courtesy of Todd Stock and Greenridge Guitars.

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• Guitarmaking
• luthier
• Greenridge
• Guitars

[Beemerboy324]

I went around the aluminum foil thing by using stainless steel instead of carbon steel. I got my local sheet metal shop to shear me the 28 ga. strips I needed for $5.00 a piece. That is probably a bit better that aluminum and carbon steel.

[MDLuthier]

@Beemerboy324 If you can find spring stainless, you'll get the best of both worlds. if not, you'll want blue spring steel for tight cuts and other tight bends...plain stainless is fine for full body shapes.

[frg8888]

Great video. You makes It look simple. Where can I buy a digital thermometer like that? Also, are they pricey? Thank you

[MDLuthier]

@frg8888 Try Harbor Freight...their automotive multimeter includes a K type thermocouple and is ideal for measuring bending temps.

[frg8888]

@MDLuthier Happy Holidays. One last question. I found the K type thermocouple at Harbor Freight. How do you connect It to the blanket? Thanks

[MDLuthier]

@frg8888 Not connected to the blanket...just place the end between wood and paper near the widest aprt of the lower bout.

[MDLuthier]

Most automotive multimeters will have a plug-in and meter setting for a 'K' type thermocouple to provide direct-reading temps in the bending range. The meter I show in the video is from Harbor Freight...Model 95670-6VGA for $37; however, often on sale for around $22.

[JGF6237]

Can you tell us where you purchased your digital thermometer. Great Job!!!

[johncharnock]

Hi - You used three slats is that correct ?

[MDLuthier]

The same brown or white paper used to wrap parcels - often refered to as kraft or butchers paper. I buy 30" long rolls of it at Target or Office Depot and band saw it to 6" lengths. I use white kraft paper on light colored woods such as holly and the standard brown paper on everything else.