Here's my teardrop "hoop" after about 2.5 days of drying on my forming-jig. I also glued in a small block of wood between the two sides about half way up the neck and let that dry under clamps overnight. The idea of the block is to hold the two ends of the hoop parallel to each other so they can feed into the headstock without any spring-back pressure. The second soaking/forming seems to have eliminated most of the warping, and has reduced the spring-back tension in the wood. The addition of this block half way up the neck has eliminated the rest, especially near the end where the headstock will mount. The second soak and forming has opened up a hair-line crack in the lower neck between the headstock and where I put this new block of wood. Hopefully, the headstock and this block of wood will keep the crack from growing. In the meantime, I'll be watching it. Stay tuned to this link to follow my progress: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/HMRB101/forum/topics/my-teardrop-project-a-stick-dulcimer-with-a-tear-drop-shaped-bodyRead more…
No, I have not tried the hot-pipe method of bending wood, but I have heard of it. Another CBN member, Michael Fred Johnson mentioned the idea and we've "talked" about it a bit in the discussion link listed above. I you have any more to add, please add it to that thread. As it is now, I don't have proper workshop, garage, or shed, so if and when I get around to doing it, it will have to be outside somewhere. My wife wouldn't put up will an open flame in our flat, even though she has two of them on her stove. Hey, maybe I could rig something up that would work on a gas stove top. Should give that some more thought. She'd still have to out for a day or an afternoon if and when I try it. Maybe there's another way to heat pipes other than a propane (gas) torch. I'd also need to research the topic more before I tied it. But other CBN members may be interested and better prepared to try it.
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Hi Randy Bretz,
No, I have not tried the hot-pipe method of bending wood, but I have heard of it. Another CBN member, Michael Fred Johnson mentioned the idea and we've "talked" about it a bit in the discussion link listed above. I you have any more to add, please add it to that thread. As it is now, I don't have proper workshop, garage, or shed, so if and when I get around to doing it, it will have to be outside somewhere. My wife wouldn't put up will an open flame in our flat, even though she has two of them on her stove. Hey, maybe I could rig something up that would work on a gas stove top. Should give that some more thought. She'd still have to out for a day or an afternoon if and when I try it. Maybe there's another way to heat pipes other than a propane (gas) torch. I'd also need to research the topic more before I tied it. But other CBN members may be interested and better prepared to try it.
-Rand.
Have you ever tried the hot pipe way of bending wood.