Very nicely done. I have bent many sides (only in the hundreds, no where near a thousand) using the hot iron method and like it a lot. While taking a course in Spain I was introduced to one of the fancy machines and was surprised to see that there was almost no springback and it actually took less time (not counting the time it sat in the mould of course when you could work on another part of the guitar, or have a coffee - or beer) . The hot pipe method is great but there are other methods that work too, just saying.
I'm making a Baroque Lute. I have some magic Yew, 1.6 mm thickness ribs. I can bend them to shape on the bending iron as many times as I like (I've counted 15) and they spring back. It's great - or perhaps not if you're trying to make a lute..... :)
Wow, that was a great demonstration. I will be bending my first set here shortly so thanks for making it look so easy! Where did you buy your iron from? Again great post and thanks for putting this up.
Excellent thank you. I know Nigel Forster another master luthier does it your way, and nice and quickly, like you! Do you find some woods bend differently? Also, is there a maximum thickness? i am experimenting with thin tops, and chunkier sides, at the moment...
Hi Richard, i just have a question. Where can i find a bending iron like yours? The StewMac ones are not great, yours looks to be much better built? Thanks
+Maurice Coutanceau Hi Maurice, i purchased a bending iron recently from Luthier's Bench in the UK. The build quality is superb, i'm very happy with it! Here's a link to there website - www.luthiersbench.co.uk/
+Maurice Coutanceau I made a wooden pattern and had someone cast it in solid aluminium. That was decades ago when small 1 or 2 man foundries were still about. I put a cartridge heating element in it. It does everything from a violin to a cello, although I use it for guitars. When the element packs in I might fire it up with a propane torch (it's solid, retains the heat) or just go and buy the luthiers bench one. They look well made.
Hello Richard, thank you for sharing your experience. I am still a novice, working on my seventh guitar. I bought a bending iron and made a jig for bending. Wallnut springs back a lot whereas rosewood stays better in shape, I noticed. I still have to use the bending iron for finetuning. At what temperature do you use the bending iron?
+Peter van Rooij Hello Peter, Yes some timbers can be a bit tricky to bend. I don't take much notice of temperature when I'm bending, I turn on the iron and let it good and hot before I start bending. I always start at the waist then turn the iron down to do the bouts. I find with woods such as walnut, Madagascan and Brazilian rosewood it is better to have the iron hotter for longer. Hope this helps in some way. Best of luck with your guitars.
@@HowellGuitarsRichard Do you have any experience with bending snakewood? Would it be possible at all to bend snakewood bindings without breaking 10 of these expensive things first?
@@Daantjer Hello Marry, Snakewood will bend ok providing its not too thick, 2 mm is about the limit if you have no experience bending it. Take your time, bend it slowly, use gloves it does get very hot and stays hot longer than other woods. Richard
Luthier's now have a High quality affordable solution with Bending Irons & Straps available from Luthier's Bench Ltd England. Please visit www.luthiersbench.co.uk for details.
I started bending my sides by hand on a bending iron as you described. I think your advice of not using a bending machine is typical of old school luthiers. I learnt off a completely traditional luthier and he wasn’t open minded to new ways. You need to get with the times. There is more than one correct way of doing things and it is silly to try and convince people otherwise.
Do it which ever way you like. I have made over 500 guitars that way how many have you made? You might still have a few things to learn, maybe not, it sounds like you already know it all.
Richard Howell it actually sounds like you know it all! Yes, you have made many more guitars than me but it looks as though you are 20 years older than me so that may have something to do with it. I don’t think the measure of a good luthier is how many guitars you’ve made either. Just try to stay open minded😉
One think I can tell you is, I certainly don't know it all. I do know why my guitars work the way they do and I'm happy with that. I'm always interested in how other makers do various things. I have studied how the great makers of the past have done things which has helped me over the years. Good luck in the future with your guitars.
@@samhunt3201 no, I don’t really have the time or inclination to make RUclips videos🤷🏻♂️. If I did though, I sure wouldn’t be advising people not to use a proven modern method. I would just show people how I do things😉🤣😂. What about yourself, do you have some tutorials I can learn from?.
![How to Bend Guitar Sides [Bending Iron Full Process]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XLcX-nERRtc/mqdefault.jpg)
Brilliant you make it look so easy, that’s definitely loads of experience with bending
Thanks for sharing.
Richard Howe - amongst the very best luthier information on youtube.
Very nicely done. I have bent many sides (only in the hundreds, no where near a thousand) using the hot iron method and like it a lot. While taking a course in Spain I was introduced to one of the fancy machines and was surprised to see that there was almost no springback and it actually took less time (not counting the time it sat in the mould of course when you could work on another part of the guitar, or have a coffee - or beer) . The hot pipe method is great but there are other methods that work too, just saying.
I'm making a Baroque Lute. I have some magic Yew, 1.6 mm thickness ribs. I can bend them to shape on the bending iron as many times as I like (I've counted 15) and they spring back. It's great - or perhaps not if you're trying to make a lute..... :)
my god that was quick amazing
Richard, thank you for sharing your experience and very helpful comments. This will help many, I'm sure.
Wow, that was a great demonstration. I will be bending my first set here shortly so thanks for making it look so easy! Where did you buy your iron from? Again great post and thanks for putting this up.
Very nice
Subbed.
No more videos??
Nice dem!
Excellent thank you. I know Nigel Forster another master luthier does it your way, and nice and quickly, like you! Do you find some woods bend differently? Also, is there a maximum thickness? i am experimenting with thin tops, and chunkier sides, at the moment...
thank you
Hi Richard, i just have a question. Where can i find a bending iron like yours? The StewMac ones are not great, yours looks to be much better built? Thanks
+Maurice Coutanceau Hi Maurice, i purchased a bending iron recently from Luthier's Bench in the UK. The build quality is superb, i'm very happy with it! Here's a link to there website - www.luthiersbench.co.uk/
+Maurice Coutanceau
I made a wooden pattern and had someone cast it in solid aluminium. That was decades ago when small 1 or 2 man foundries were still about. I put a cartridge heating element in it. It does everything from a violin to a cello, although I use it for guitars. When the element packs in I might fire it up with a propane torch (it's solid, retains the heat) or just go and buy the luthiers bench one. They look well made.
Can you tell me this plywood name
Hello Richard, thank you for sharing your experience. I am still a novice, working on my seventh guitar. I bought a bending iron and made a jig for bending. Wallnut springs back a lot whereas rosewood stays better in shape, I noticed. I still have to use the bending iron for finetuning. At what temperature do you use the bending iron?
+Peter van Rooij
Hello Peter, Yes some timbers can be a bit tricky to bend. I don't take much notice of temperature when I'm bending, I turn on the iron and let it good and hot before I start bending. I always start at the waist then turn the iron down to do the bouts. I find with woods such as walnut, Madagascan and Brazilian rosewood it is better to have the iron hotter for longer. Hope this helps in some way. Best of luck with your guitars.
+Richard Howell
Thank you, Richard.
@@HowellGuitarsRichard Do you have any experience with bending snakewood? Would it be possible at all to bend snakewood bindings without breaking 10 of these expensive things first?
@@Daantjer Hello Marry, Snakewood will bend ok providing its not too thick, 2 mm is about the limit if you have no experience bending it. Take your time, bend it slowly, use gloves it does get very hot and stays hot longer than other woods. Richard
@@richardhowell708 Alright, thanks for the tips!
Luthier's now have a High quality affordable solution with Bending Irons & Straps available from Luthier's Bench Ltd England. Please visit www.luthiersbench.co.uk for details.
I started bending my sides by hand on a bending iron as you described. I think your advice of not using a bending machine is typical of old school luthiers. I learnt off a completely traditional luthier and he wasn’t open minded to new ways. You need to get with the times. There is more than one correct way of doing things and it is silly to try and convince people otherwise.
Do it which ever way you like. I have made over 500 guitars that way how many have you made? You might still have a few things to learn, maybe not, it sounds like you already know it all.
Richard Howell it actually sounds like you know it all! Yes, you have made many more guitars than me but it looks as though you are 20 years older than me so that may have something to do with it. I don’t think the measure of a good luthier is how many guitars you’ve made either. Just try to stay open minded😉
One think I can tell you is, I certainly don't know it all. I do know why my guitars work the way they do and I'm happy with that. I'm always interested in how other makers do various things. I have studied how the great makers of the past have done things which has helped me over the years. Good luck in the future with your guitars.
@@petermorello1051 do you have any videos or instructions as to how you approach your making Peter ?
@@samhunt3201 no, I don’t really have the time or inclination to make RUclips videos🤷🏻♂️. If I did though, I sure wouldn’t be advising people not to use a proven modern method. I would just show people how I do things😉🤣😂. What about yourself, do you have some tutorials I can learn from?.