Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi guys, getting ready to build my first cutaway. Second guessing my cutaway, too tight?? I got some really nice Ziricote, just a bit nervous about bending this. I'll be using a Fox style bender with a heating pad.
What do you guys think, does it look ok to you?

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

I think it will be fine.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Likewise...though I'd also be a bit wary of ziricote...

That's my main concern... I've never worked with Ziricote, haven't heard great things about it's bending...

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

That should be doable. If it was me, I would thin the section through the horn more than the rest of the side to make it easier to bend. Don't overdo it though because if the side ripples there during the bending, it can make it hard to level sand it afterwards without sanding it too thin or going through. I would also pre-treat the wood with Supersoft veneer softener. I've only built one guitar with ziricote but it bent fine. That guitar didn't have bends quite as tight as that, but I think it would have worked if it did based on how the wood behaved during bending on my hot pipe.

_________________
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Might be OK, can you test it on some scrap? And not to be critical but does it have to be that tight?

I was just looking at some Lowden pics this morning and their cutaway looks lovely and not too tight either. I'll try and design similar for my first cutaway..

https://themusicemporium.com/guitars/ac ... rer/lowden

If the line from the waist to the cutaway were just slightly more rounded, instead of what appears to be straight, it might ease the cutaway tightness just a bit.

_________________
Thank You and Best To All

Its doable, and doable by hand. That being said, its one that will take patience and experience. One trick is to use a metal strap and clamp it on either end of a bend. As you bend the strap holds in place and its tension on the outside of the bend increases helping to prevent cracks. GO SLOW. Be sure to mark the start of the cutaway so you don't end up with it in the wrong place. When the tight bend is done you can switch to a different strap with handles on the end (LMI used to sell one) and bend the recurve toward the block. If you get grain lifting. STOP. Glue it down with CA using UHMW cauls. Let it cure by itself and come back and try again.

Those are some beauties!!
I'm doing my best to compromise on my radius, I really like the look. I'll definitely try some scrap first.

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

Great info, thanks! I'll be using the bender, as I'm eager to try it out. I like the strap idea. And definitely will be going slow and get some extra patience going that day!

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

If that is your first cutaway I would do a trial with some scrap wood before I started on the ziricote. Especially with a fox bender. The trick is how quick, or slow you bend it. To fast and snap, to slow and the wood gets brittle and snap. It is not always easy to find just right. And moisture content and preservation of moisture (as in wrapped in foil) is also important.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Thanks, it is my first. I'm have some inexpensive wood that I got a while back. Going to practice on that before I take a crack at the Ziricote [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

I do not have a lot of experience with Ziricote. Just one. I did a cutaway. Bent great. But I did a 24 hour soak with Super Soft II (craft paper and aluminum foil wrap)

Well I finally started my first cutaway builds. This is Amazon Rosewood with Spruce. I used my Fox style side bender with no issues. I'm building 2 guitars, now I'm moving on to the Ziricote sides...Yikes!!
I have a gallon of Super Soft 2 on the way. I'm hoping this one will play just as nice as her sister.
Planning on soaking the sides overnight.
Any other tips, tricks or wise words are very much appreciated.
Thanks!!

Nice to see a cutaway on a classical. I always do them on mine since as a (poor) player I find it helps a lot with those notes above the twelth fret.

Dave