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Thread: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

  1. #1
    Registered User Andy Morton's Avatar
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    Default Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    I am in the middle of trying this technique for bending wood bindings (curly maple)--has anyone tried this? Very impressive! What do others think!

    Part 1

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTbc6FDusUQ

    Part 2

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUnc0KsXgs4

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    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    I watched a third of the 1st video and the guy was still leaning on the bench talking. Maybe I'm just impatient.

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    Registered User Andy Morton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    Yes--various wood binding bending techniques are covered at the beginning (skip ahead if you already know this)....I didn't mean to waste anyone's time with this but wanted to share information for those having trouble with making tight bends in wood binding -- especially with curly maple.

    Binding is soaked in ammonia, wrapped in foil, given a heat gun treatment, and then put in a form/mold.

    Although I still use the traditional hot pipe method---his technique avoids scorching and breaking curly maple binding in making some pretty tight bends (peghead bends especially).

    Anyway--I thought this might be worth passing along.

    Andy

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    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    Andy, Thanks for the links. It is good info. Better too much info than not enough. It was just late in a long day.
    Thanks again

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  7. #5

    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    For those who are impatient, here are the steps of his process.

    1. Soak the wooden binding in household ammonia for 30 minutes.
    2. Wraps the wood in aluminum foil, two layers.
    3. Use a heat gun to raise the temperature for about 2 minutes.
    4. Put the strip in pressed form and leave it there until stable.

    Seems valid although, ammonia does alter the color of wood. If you paint ash with ammonia and wait a few hours it develops a very nice golden hue. The old craftman style golden oak furniture was in fact ash that was vapor treated with ammonia. I see no reason why his method would not work with water, he is soaking wood for 30 minutes. On a thin piece wrapped in aluminum, that should be enough.

    The nice thing about this method is that it reduces the required equipment for someone starting out. If I had seen this before I made my bender I am not sure I would have made the bender.

    Bob

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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    Excellent, thanks for the link.

    The process of making "bent" chairs is ammonia under pressure.

    A vintage issue of Fine Woodworking showed bending 12" logs with ammonia.

    Makes sense.

    One note though:

    Household ammonia is about 4%... rather weak.
    Industrial ammonia is about 28%.. he does not specify.

    I did leave a question on the video.. perhaps I'll contact him later to verify.

    The ammonia used by furniture makers to color (fume) oak and ash is 28%... be careful.. toxic stuff.

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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    I would be very careful to have very good ventilation when using this method. Breathing amonia vapors is not good for you (and yes I know the diference between household amonia and real amonia).

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    Registered User David Houchens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    I finally watched both videos this morning. I'm not very good with ammonia fumes. It's funny how we can tolerate some things and not others. Bleach just wipes me out but lacquer doesn't. I wear a filtered mask anyhow.
    I used to bend my mandolin sides in two piece forms like he shows using heat blankets. I just use the ol hot bending iron now. As for non cutaway guitars, I just bend a curly maple side in my side bender and rip strips from it.

    I think he did say household ammonia IIRC

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    Resonate globally Pete Jenner's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    Quote Originally Posted by bryce View Post
    I watched a third of the 1st video and the guy was still leaning on the bench talking. Maybe I'm just impatient.
    Yes it's a bit long winded. I like to boil bindings.
    The more I learn, the less I know.

    Peter Jenner
    Blackheathen

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    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete Jenner View Post
    ... I like to boil bindings.
    Some salt, pepper and ham hock and yum, yum.
    Bill Snyder

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    Default Re: Bending Wood Bindings--An Alternative Approach-----

    To clarify..
    He did say "household ammonia" but did not specify the percentage.

    I seriously doubt he is using 28%.

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