Acoustic Guitar Construction

Here's a video from PRS acoustic production shop the benders are pretty low tech for a production shop but note the use of the prerfectly matching waist cauls -- also note the forms are solid and only one slat is used -- as described in a different topic these are similar to the ones we use at KMG. The suggestion to place the bent sides is a cool down form is also a good preatice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt-CY7G5 ... re=related

I like the go bar deck with the brace locating feature and the flat go bars too!

What do you mean by 'pre-bend' ?

Just like this -- without the pneumatics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxEqGqi4D-E

Okay.
A question - could this be done effectively with a heated pipe?

The whole heated pipe thing - maybe another thread? - has intrigued me as a cost-effective, universal and low-cost method of bending. Is my thinking fantasy or is there some truth to it?

Not sure if I understand the question -- but yes we bend the waist curve on a 2 3/4" aluminum pipe jig heated with propane. If you are asking about hand bending on a pipe -- its fun -- tedious -- time consuming -- and at least for me very inconsistent.

Thanks Ken. I see the light.

Dave,
Keep in mind, Ken does his waist curve on a pipe as well as on the machine, and plenty of people have used pipes successfully. For Ken, it is not cost effective to spend a half day bending three sets of wood. For you, it is definitely cost effective to spend one whole day on each side! If my wife didnt buy me the LMI bender, I would have given pipe bending a shot because it is much less expensive.