Bending sides

[Russell Adkins]

Was wondering if anyone has ever tried a heat gun for bending sides? Heat could be pin pointed right where you want it , it could blow directly on the wood or be mounted to heat a pipe up to desired temps.Temps range from warm to super hot 250 degrees to 1500 degrees some even have a direct heat setting on them .

[ken cierp]

Yes read about several unsuccessful attempts to bend sides with a heat gun and/or hair dryers -- scorches and cracks. Do you mean as a heat source for a pipe? Oh yeah --also the heat guns failed after about 15-20 minutes run time. There's some clever use of a BBQ starter inside a pipe in one of the AGCF bending threads.

[Kevin in California]

Yep, get an electric charcoal lighter for around $13 and stuff it inside your pipe. Mount the pipe anyway you like, and go at it.
You will want all the heat you can get from the set up so no temp control is needed.
I bent sides for 5 guitars this way...it works.

Kevin

[John Link]

I've been watching the Michael Collins DVDs on making Maccaferri "gypsy" guitars that traditionally have extreme doming (pliage) in the tops. One of the methods he uses to bend the spruce is exactly the same as Kevin's. I think he said the pipe was from the plumbing supply at Home Depot.