can i steam over "tightbond" section ?

[nick-p]

an odd one to tackle.. i have a solid alder body to which i have tightbonded a 1.5mm thick walnut veneer. the elbow contour shape [ jazz bass ] i have rounded over using a household steam iron on medium setting.  so far so good. here is my dilema, .  i now need to glue my 3mm maple bookmatched top on top of the walnut top. if i shape the top curve-over for my elbow with the maple actually clamped ON the body, will it lift the tightbonded walnut sheet under it ?. i'm not sure of just how forgiving tightbond is to heat ?

[Russell Vance]

Hi nick,

 Titebond unsticks at roughly boiling point temps if you are separating it - but as you are pressing onto the substrate/ laminate with the maple laminate I guess you are actually going to be holding it in place.  But, to give yourself a little extra insulation between the maple and the walnut I would lay a sheet of the extra thick aluminium foil that we now get from Cosco and maybe a sheet of cotton onto the walnut to protect it a bit from the heat and steam that heating and bending the maple in close proximity will cause.   I'm only talking here - I haven't done this but it would be my approach - I'm sure there is better advice out there - anybody?   You could also chill the body before starting the job to give yourself a little extra cold time. Rusty.

[nick-p]

all makes good sense rusty,  thanks

[nick-p]

turned out ok rusty..  made a fairly thick aluminium foil blanket to protect the walnut.. thanks,  nick

[Russell Vance]

Hi Nick, thanks for the feed back - that's a sharp look. Rusty.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Nice! How does the sharp edge feel under the forearm?

[nick-p]

hi pierre, feels surprisingly comfortable.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Surprisingly, I agree! Thanks for your input. I'll give it a try on my next forearm carve.