This week I started bending and assembling sides as part of my mandolin build. In the past, I’ve bent each piece individually over a hot copper pipe. As I scale up my operation, I’m making tools and forms to work more accurately and efficiently. For side bending, this means building wooden bending forms for the four separate pieces that make up the Florentine-style mandolin sides.
I spritz water on the thin wood strips, wrap them in parchment paper and aluminum foil, then sandwich them in the forms between two stainless steel strips and a silicone heating blanket.
As a thermostatically-controlled power source raises the temperature of the heating blanket, I tighten the forms slowly till it hits 280F, then I crank everything completely, and let the temperature climb to 320F before shutting it down. After allowing the piece to cool, I remove it, make a few final adjustments on the hot copper pipe, and place it in a mold to dry completely.
The next day, I finish-shape four mahogany body blocks which connect the side pieces together, apply glue, and “voila,” the ribs of a birdseye maple mandolin body are complete!
