Acoustic Guitar Construction

I am setting up to bend some bindings so I thought I would share a photo of my bending jig. And a ?. Can I just bend all 4 at the same time. I am thinking out loud on line here.

No problem bending all at the same time. I tape them together at the ends if there are no purflings to make the set easier to handle. If there are purflings I tape them in pairs purfling to purfling including a couple of bands of tape in the center. The idea with the purflings is that they will not delaminate also if done in pairs you get a left and right set.

I've re-thought how purfling should be bent, I am working a simple fixture to bend them laying flat, sort of like a hot plate. Some of these are really fragile, as a matter of fact you can view one video that's online and clearly hear the herringbone purfling snap into pieces as compression is applied -- yes it happens, that's the reason I'm going for a new design not based on the Fox style bender.

Ken,

Let us know when you have finished thinking through that purfling bending solution. It certainly is a problem. In the past I have used an old fashioned bending iron, so I could feel and see the material as it moves, rather than depend upon the execution of a mechanical motion. And, of course, I broke a few. Something better would be welcome.

I will do that -- July is usually our slow month and when I do a lot of R&D, not his year (not complaining) but new ideas and new stuff in general gets put on the back burner.

I have stopped using any springs, cross cauls or clamps and now use bungee cable to pull the ends down tight. I find this works much better.
Tom

I am sure its me but I am not getting what I am looking at, or the purpose? Springs generally are perpendicular to the profile.