Make Your Own Spanish Guitar - online book

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9

SHAPING THE SIDES One side of the guitar is first soaked in water for 10 or 15 minutes and when the bending iron is hot enough to almost scorch a piece of wood placed against it, the side (with the position of the waist having been marked) is pressed against the tube and	gentle pressure applied on each side. The dampness of the wood and the heat coming from the bending iron will cause the wood to bend�and the extent of the curve can be regulated to conform to the shape of the mould. (See photograph.) The guitar mould should be on the bench or table-top close to the bending iron so that the resulting curve(s) can be frequently checked in the mould. It will be obvious that to make the curve of the guitar "waist" the side is turned over on the bending iron and pressure applied in the opposite direction. Whilst bending die sides, great care should be taken not to scorch the wood. If the bending iron is too hot it will leave scorch marks on the sides being bent and whilst that is not too important when bending the sides for the upper and lower bouts of the guitar, scorching of the wood when bending for the waist will be difficult to remove.

Showing how the guitar side is bent over the heated bending iron.

		*Prolcclive blocks*

pig 4.�The two sides placed inside the mould and held in position by wooden "braces." Protectire blocks of wood should be placed at each end of each brace to prevent the guitar sides from becoming marked.