Workshop...

Bending the Bentside

I am often asked how the curved bentside section of the case is bent. The method I use is the lamination method. 1/8" thick strips of poplar, as wide as the case will be tall, are placed on a jig with glue between the layers. When the glue dries and the strips are removed from the jig, they will retain their curved shape. This photo shows the bentside jig and 5 pieces of 1/8" thick poplar on the workbench. The wooden clamping bars are removed from the jig and two pieces of the poplar, with glue on their mating facing only, are placed onto the jig. The clamping bars are re-placed over the poplar and tightened. After a few hours, the bars are removed and glue is applied to the top surface of the poplar pieces on the jig and to one surface of a third piece, which is placed on the first two pieces and clamped. This process is repeated until the bentside reaches the required thickness. When the required thickness is reached and the glue has had plenty of drying time, the bentside is removed from the jig. It will retain the curve of the jig.