Violin Forum/Message Board

[byacey]

That's the challenge of bending highly flamed maple; possibly the higher temperatures involved with a bending iron may work better for wood of this nature. The form method has worked for me so far.

Again, I can't comment because I've never tried bending wood like this with an iron. Any bending iron users want to elaborate?

[Dave Chandler]

This sounds like a great idea.

I've been bending my ribs on a stainless pipe heated by a propane torch, have had pretty good success, but does take some practice getting the ribs to match up with the form, and occasionally scorch a tight turn which means starting over.

I've had my eye on commercial violin/viola bending iron but just can't quite justify ordering one, when I'm doing pretty good with this pipe -- but now this really has me thinking, I'm ready to try this steam iron method.

So many great ideas!! Thanks all.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo