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268183 Nichael Cramer <nichael@s...> 2019‑03‑23 Old Shakerbox Band Question
OK, so here's the deal.

Last week I came across a stash of shaker box bands that I ordered
from John Wilson quite a while back.

In more detail, they're a mixture of sizes (both cherry and maple)
and they been sitting in my (relatively) dry basement for probably
10-12 years.

So my question to the collective wisdom is this:

Do you see any problem with using the bands in the "normal" way.

In short, normally I'd assume that letting wood dry for a while is
all to the good.   But bending is sort of a special case and I don't
have any sense of to what extent  "drying" for this length
of time will affect how bendable they still are.
(I could just experiment, I guess.  But I'd just as soon not end up
with a pile of split-out wood, if I could know ahead of time that I
should do something else with it.  SoI thought I'd ask around on the 
porch first.)

I guess the ranges of options are something like:
  1] It won't have any effect.
  2] The "extra drying" will only improve how well the band will bend.
  3] It's hopeless.
  4]  ???

If you _do_ foresee any problem, do have any suggestions about
what I might do ahead of time to help the situation?

Thanks,
Nichael
268184 Troy Livingston <horologist@w...> 2019‑03‑23 Re: Old Shakerbox Band Question
They will be fine.
Just use as normal.
I had some just as old.
The wood drys until it reaches equilibrium with the surrounding air then stops.

Troy


Sent from my iPhone
268185 Bill Ghio 2019‑03‑23 Re: Old Shakerbox Band Question
I have bent 10 years old kiln dried Oak and it worked. It was my first attempt
at bending and I just did it as proof of concept and it worked.

I have bent air dried Cherry for a pair of Windsor chair backs and it bent fine.
My guess is that if you give it a little extra time in the heat and moisture it
wol work out just fine.

Bill
268186 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2019‑03‑23 Re: Old Shakerbox Band Question
> On Mar 23, 2019, at 12:16 PM, Nichael Cramer  wrote:
> 
> 
> Do you see any problem with using the bands in the "normal" way.


Guitar guys bend wood that was cut in the 50’s/60’s/70’s all the time.  I have
seen figured wood that was cut out of an old table bend just fine.  Once in a
while a piece will misbehave.  Here is a set of what looks like Brazilian
Rosewood that just snapped in the same location for both of the 2 sides

http:
//www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=51738 <http:/
/www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=51738">http://www.luthiersf
orum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=51738>

You may have to register to see the pics, but it is a very good discussion of
using Windex with Ammonia D(straaight ammonia can be dangerous, depending on
concentration), or a product called Supersoft for bending.  What the guitar guys
say is that it is the heat, not the water, that does the work and that the
water(steam) is a way to get the heat into the interior of the wood quickly.
Many guitar guys bend wood at less than 1/10 (.085-.10) of an inch with no
moisture at all, just heat.  Many ways to skin this cat.  Like galoots, ask 10
luthiers a question and you get 11 different answers,

Ed Minchnm
268187 "Dennis Heyza" <michigaloot@c...> 2019‑03‑23 Re: Old Shakerbox Band Question
I've used bands purchased from John that sat around for 5-7 years without
issue. I do boil mine before bending so dryness isn't an issue.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: OldTools [mailto:oldtools-bounces@s...] On Behalf Of
Nichael Cramer
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2019 12:17 PM
To: oldtools@s...
Subject: [OldTools] Old Shakerbox Band Question

OK, so here's the deal.

Last week I came across a stash of shaker box bands that I ordered
from John Wilson quite a while back.

In more detail, they're a mixture of sizes (both cherry and maple)
and they been sitting in my (relatively) dry basement for probably
10-12 years.

So my question to the collective wisdom is this:

Do you see any problem with using the bands in the "normal" way.
268188 Jim O'Brien <jimob@c...> 2019‑03‑23 Re: Old Shakerbox Band Question
I sometimes cut my own bands from wood that's been sitting in the rack 
for a long time.  Success depends more on the grain than the dried age 
of the wood. I always soak them 20-30 minutes before bending.
268189 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2019‑03‑23 Re: Old Shakerbox Band Question
> On Mar 23, 2019, at 1:51 PM, Jim O'Brien  wrote:
> 
> I sometimes cut my own bands from wood that's been sitting in the rack for a
long time.  Success depends more on the grain than the dried age of the wood. I
always soak them 20-30 minutes before bending.
> 


Good point Jim.  The guitar guys are always looking for 2 things - vertical
grain and no runout.  Runout is where the breaks start.

Ed Minch

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