Petrzelka #3 Ziricote and Sitka 00-12

[Kevin in California]

Sweet!

[John J]

Love that grain.

[ken cierp]

Did you end up bending the waist in the machine or on a pipe?

[Daniel P]

Ken, I usually try to follow your recommendations to the letter (you've been a big part of me getting this far in building), but this time I did take the short-cut and bent the waist in the machine. I've got a 6x6 blanket ready to build a bending pipe, I just need to get it built (one of many tools on the list to complete).

I waited until the blanket was heated to about 280 degrees before starting the waist bend, and very, very slowly turned the waist clamp as the temperature climbed toward 300. I leave the waist caul about 1/8-1/16th off of the waist of the mold while I bend the upper and lower bout, and then I finish by bringing the waist clamp all the way down.

[ken cierp]

Excellent -- did you have the sides profiled? How did you keep the "sandwich" aligned to the inner curve apex?

[Daniel P]

For both my Maple and Ziricote sides I did pre-profile them from side templates I drew using the KMG Mega Mold, and the KMG stencils.

I first thickness to about .080", trace on the side profile from my pattern - carefully marking the waist. I then align the waist marks, clamp/tape the sides together with the "out sides" out, joint the "top" edge of the sides flat, and then profile them with hand planes and spoke shave.

When I wet and wrap the sides I mark my paper wrapping with the waist line as well, and when placed into the bending machine I use the vertical slot as a sight to ensure I have my waist lined up. To keep the sides square I butt the "top" edge of the side against the left or right side of the bender as appropriate - the sides need to be mirror images of each other. I have not been using the aluminum waist clamp - I just drop in all the way down to keep my body mold aligned in the bender.

I'll be bending some Tiger Myrtle sides for an L-00 before long, and will try to better document the process with photos - it will be much more clear.

[ken cierp]

Sounds like a good system -- more documentation should be very helpful to others -- thanks