Official Luthiers Forum!

I made a bonehead mistake last night bending some ebony binding.I somehow left it short on the lower bout! Now I need to re-bend it flat and try again. Any tips on how to straighten it out before I bend it again in the Fox bender? Thanks...........

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Iron?

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Yep,it worked just fine with a clothes iron on high heat and wet!

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

As Waddy says-
I'd use the bending iron and wet rags/steam to get the strips as straight as possible- then probably a steam (clothes) iron and more wet rags on a flat surface to try to get the strips as flat as possible.
Then, since the strips will be hot (and wet-ish), I'd put them back in the bender and re-bend.
You could probably do all these steps with a heating blanket, if that's what you have.
I've only had to do this once, and it wasn't ebony, but it worked out OK.
With most binding schemes, I cut my own and have spares, so I'd probably toss the mistakes and start again. However, if it involves getting more through the mail, straightening is certainly a good option to try.

If only one strip is short, you could always join them off the centerline, depending on your binding scheme.

Good luck!

John

Thanks John. This was the first time this happened for me.Another lesson learned! I will definately be more careful lining things up in the bender from now on!

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755