My new bender (so far)

[ken cierp]

I see no need for messing with the parchment unless you were worried about transferring stains off the bender.

What kind of wood?

No ripples? I've boiled and steamed sides before, woods like ribbon Mahogany required an array of many clamps to flatten the wood while drying to prevent ripples, also the form was solid, no give -- and not heated at all.

[johnnyg]

This was Honduran Mahogany. I had no rippling at all, but that may be because the wood was not figured at all.

I used parchment paper because I read somewhere it helped with preventing stain transfer from the aluminum and helped with limiting scorching. I had neither of these, but I also did not let the bender get all that hot. I was mainly after drying the wood and setting the bend so i stayed around 230 degrees.

I am not ready to say this is the way to go in the long run, but worked for this time. I am still planning on the pipe bender when I can find a piece of pipe the right size that does not come in 20 foot lengths.

[ken cierp]

pipe the right size that does not come in 20 foot lengths

http://www.speedymetals.com/pc-4601-837 ... minum.aspx

preventing stain transfer from the aluminum

Never experienced such a condition -- all our benders and slats are made of aluminum.

[ken cierp]

[johnnyg]

Thanks for the help. And thanks for pointing me to a pipe supplier, Ken.