Baked Tops

[John Link]

Well folks, if pre-war Matrins were not stored in helium filled bags, how else could they have fulfilled the oxygen free criterion of a good sounding aged top? (I was making funny. The oxygen free consideration comes from the Bourgeois Guitar marketing hype for their aging process.)

But there is a serious advantage in joining a pliaged top before bending. The compound curve can be distributed more evenly if the top is whole when bent plus the joint can be clamped with greater pressure when the plates are flat, before bending. The heat is applied at the same time the bending is introduced, not afterward. So Tony's worry that the heat would relax the pliage is not a concern - but using a glue that will survive the heating process is. There seems to be general agreement that Titebond is not a good choice for heating. What would be?

[ken cierp]

Getting off point here --- a lot!

If you guys want to continue the arch top conversation I'll move the posts
Still I personally would not introduce a new structural short fall -- I see no need to experiment and be the path finder with such an important joint. Even if its a reinforced seam
http://www.pluckandsqueeze.com/Mac%202/Pliage%201.htm