Acoustic Guitar Construction

Pretty cool method, with the vacuum bag on the form.

I'm building two at a time, this pic is of two eir (outer) and hog (inner) sides clamped in a different way from the above pic. I'm working on a method using the MegaMold that might make things even easier.

Are those Harbor Freight clamps?

Dave, I notice you've been using the laminated sides on your guitars. Are liking that better than solid wood? Curious why?

John - yep, good ol' HF clamps. I pick up a few whenever they are on sale.

Tim - it's a process that works for me, and the sides do have structural advantages. As well, I don't keep a stock of wood in the shop, or very little anyway, so if I break a side while bending, I'm....what's that word?...oh yeah, Screwed. I'd have to get another side and hope it matches and all that. Using the thick veneers, I save money and if something does break (has not happened yet), I just cut another piece of veneer, take it down to thickness, and proceed. No biggie.

But mainly, it's the structural thing and the fact that I like the process.

Those of you who have bent hundreds of sides probably don't even worry about breakage and that's great.

Those HF 6" clamps with the rubber handles are all over my shop -- what a bargain compared to Jorgensen -- $2.99 ea ! But take care they can be over torqued and the grip will let go and render the clamp useless.

If you had an inside form couldn't you stick the whole thing in a bag and not have to use all those clamps?