Bending Katalox Sides.

[Gilbert Fredrickson]

Is Katalox difficult to bend on a Fox style bending jig? What temperature? Moist or dry?

[Bryan Bear]

I've only used it once. I don't remember having any issues bending it but I did use Super Soft II since I didn't know what to expect. I used a bending machine with blanket but don't measure the temp. I wrap my sides in damp craft paper then seal that up in aluminum foil. When I see steam starting to leak out of the foil, I start my bending. I do the waist almost all the way down, then the upper bout, then the lower bout. Once the bouts are bent, I bring the waist all the way down. I usually let it cook for a few mins that take it through a couple cycles of cooling and heating again. I'm sure I did that with these sides and I don't remember having any issues with springback beyond what would easily get pushed into the mold. This process worked fine for my Katalox but that is only a data point of 1. . .

I will say that the katalox I worked with was brittle along the grain but that did not seem to be a factor in bending at all. I don't remember what thickness I bent at but I usually shoot for between 0.08 and 0.085 inches.

[Gilbert Fredrickson]

Thanks, Bryan, that's really helpful.