Bending Qld Maple

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PHANTOM
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Bending Qld Maple

Post by PHANTOM » Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:33 am

Just a quick question - is it possible to bend Qld maple with a bending iron? Thought I'd ask the question before I buy the back and side sets. I had no trouble bending Indian rosewood with the bending iron, I'm still working on my first guitar but i would like to build my next one out of australian timber.
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graham mcdonald
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Post by graham mcdonald » Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:50 pm

It shouldn't be a problem, but then again, you can break almost anyhting with a little effort :)

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sebastiaan56
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Post by sebastiaan56 » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:40 pm

Look,

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make mine fifths........

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Rod True
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Post by Rod True » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:14 pm

Does QLD maple have curly figuring to it (sort of like big leaf maple in Western Canada)?

It can be bent on a pipe I would think, only thing you may want to do is make sure you have a piece of flashing (thin metal material) to back up the wood when bending. This will support the outside of the bend and help from cracking the side.

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graham mcdonald
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Post by graham mcdonald » Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:53 pm

Crickey, Sebastiaan, I get enough grief from Martin, don't you start :D

Qld maple isn't a maple (as Europeans or Nth Americans would know it) at all. Think mahogany in a light tan colour. Botanical name Flindersia something. Some of it can be figured, but not usually to the level of the American maples, and more often a light flame, which can affect the bending, as any figure can. But usually not to hard to bend

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Bob Connor
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Post by Bob Connor » Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:04 pm

Here's a pic of Mahogany and Queensland Maple.

Image
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PHANTOM
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Post by PHANTOM » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:50 pm

Thanks everyone will give it a go, let you know how it turns out.
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