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It seems that there are two main camps when it comes to bending sides--hot pipe benders and the Fox-style bending machine benders.

What about steam bending? You know, the sides go in a steam chamber, are steamed for awhile, taken out and then clamped to a form.

Any disadvantages, acoustic or other, to this method?

Thanks,

Greg Hanson

excess moisture required would cause the wood to cup

Steaming quartersawn woods with nice figure is a sure way to have them buckle, create "waves", or simply fall apart(highly "flamed" maple, for example), and with the more colorful woods, steaming will often bleed all the color together into a bland version of what was.

No reason whatsoever to steam instrument woods.

Actually, the biggest issue is that the side stock is so thin that it doesn't hold the heat long enough to get the side bent.  You still need to apply additional heat while bending.

I have tired it, it worked, but discovered the above, so you're back to the traditional methods.

Cupping isn't necessarily an issue.  I do a lot of steam bending for other applications.

The traditional methods are traditional for a reason.  Pipe bending works very well, but require high skill for repeatability.  Bending machine  methods offer reliable repeatability.

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

OOps, the "actually" part was meant for the earlier posts, not yours Mario!  I wasn't contradicting, but was busy typing while your were hitting the post button!

_________________
Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Thanks, everyone!

I'm a traditionalist at heart so it's good that the tried and true methods are the way to go.

Much appreciated!

Greg H.

Every tradition starts with an innovation that works. The Doolin-style bender is the best thing I've tried.