• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass bending purfling tips

Matthew Tucker

Matthew Tucker

Commercial User
Aug 21, 2002
2,686
387
Sydney, Australia
www.bresquebasses.com.au
Disclosures
Owner: Bresque Basses, Sydney Basses and Cellos
#1
:confused: I'm bending my home made purfling glued with hide glue. I'm coming up against two problems.

1. bending the tight curves near the corners on the hot iron causes the inner strips to buckle.

2. bending the gentler curves sometimes causes the strip on the inside to come unglued, almost as if it's shrinking longwise.

Are these things normal purfling behaviour? I am using just a lick of moisture on the strip befor bending.

I've started to resort to white glue to glue the strips back together. Doesn't seem as problematic as hide glue cos more flexible. I was trying to be a purist but now I can't be buggered. Is there a better glue?
 
#4
Ok I did a bit more this morning, I tried the no moisture method but the white inner strip started to crease instead of bend :-(

So I was brave and dunked the whole strip in water. Now, as long as I bend from the middle outwards, the strips slip a bit as the glue softens. Where the strip buckled I slit diagonally with a blade and will try to glue back down again and sand flat ... Its tricky, but still fun, and only a few burns this morning ... and slimy glue muck all over the bending iron!
 
#11
When buckling occurs, it's ususally because heat is not distributing evenly. I had some horror-shows bending poplar ribs. My friend Robbie McIntosh suggested warming the outside of the piece while bending it. So we applied hot air from a heat gun to the outside while using a metal bending strap. The result was a clean bend with no buckling. In your case I think you are right that you need a more friendly glue. I think you'd be better off glueing up your purfling with a less-brittle glue that has a bit of "creep" and more water resistance. A simple white glue would work fine. Also. if your purfling is a bit flexible, you may not need to pre-bend it as much as you think.
 
#12
I did some more this evening, sloooooowly and without moisture. Apart from singed fingers, it went quite well. Also I think that I'd be better off if my centre strip was cut along the grain rather than any old how because it tends to split when it gets hot and dry. And the black strips just seem to get brittle and snap too. But on the whole, nothing is irreparable, and I'm having fun with clothes pegs and white glue. The only regret I have is grabbing one of my long bits for the lower bout and using it for the upper bout by mistake! Wondered why it was too long and like a royal twit I snapped the surplus off :-(

I had cut just four matching strips for each bout; now I'll have to make another when I do the back.

I must say though, that of all the jobs so far, bending the purfling has been my least favourite ...
 
#14
71859.jpg


Today is channel-cutting day :hyper:
 
#16
:) You're watching this live. I'm at work, in my office - the best place to do this with no distraction. Ahmad Jamal on itunes and all my sabres sharpened. I hope the force is with me ...

Refresh my memory - does the bee-sting on the lower bout point up or down?
 

Attachments

  • DCP_0340.jpg
    DCP_0340.jpg
    42.7 KB · Views: 76
#19
I'm not sure - I think its an old fashioned scalpel with a very worn-down blade. Its sharpened on both sides, both edges. Nice rosewood handle. Its good for cutting the purfling groove because you can run the centre of the blade against the wall of the groove when deepening the cut, avoiding jabbing into the side of the groove itself. And cut in bothe directions just by rocking the knife.

72219.jpg


"Rodgers, Cutlers to Her Majesty"

I'm guessing thats Queen Vic?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back