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Hi,

I have few questions about bending iron.

-Those of you who use or have used bending iron, what's your experience like as to how you like it compare to other method?

-What are some advantage and disadvantage of using bending iron?

-Is cutaways difficult to do with bending iron?

Thanks, David

--Those of you who use or have used bending iron, what's your experience like as to how you like it compare to other method?

it gives a more intuitive feel for when the wood is ready to bend. I believe it is best to have pipe bending experience before using a fox style bender but your question was how they compare and fox style bender is quicker and more repeatable.

--What are some advantage and disadvantage of using bending iron?

Advantages to pipe bending is you have the wood in your hand you see feel the wood so know when it has reached the elasticity to take the bend is sensory intuitive . Disadvantages it is a slower process to bend a set and the risk of burning your self

--Is cutaways difficult to do with bending iron?
no just more time required. in some sense it is easer, again because of the sensory input from your hands.

I have a bending iron, but haven't tried any other method yet, for it is suited to the cramped conditions in my workshop.

So far so good, it's certainly a skill to know how to feed the wood along the pipe.

It's suitable for the hobby/small scale luthier business and is still used by larger scale luthiers for re-touching areas of the guitar sides/cutaway bending.

According to Cumpiano, you are not restricted to molds and can shape your guitar sides at a whim as you are bending; however he does use a mold these days!!