How do I use veneer softener?

Timbuck

Timbuck

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
6,614
Reaction score
1,887
Location
Stockton on Tees..North East UK.
I bought some glycerin so I can make up some veneer softener with water and achohol...but how do I use it to help me hot bend some sides.
Instructions I've read so far say apply full strength and clamp with absorbent towels till dry and flat...But I just want to make the wood more supple for bending the waist ...do I have to wait till it's dry or what? ...Helpful comments will be appreciated...Thanks in advance :)
 
Super soft really only mentions it in regard to troublesome dry/brittle 0.020" veneer, and like you said :wet it with paper towel and clamp flat.
When i use it on sides, i spray the sides before i get the heat bender out- the sides are dry before the bender is ready to go then i just bend em- perhaps waiting longer is better but 10 mins seems to work.
 
I always soaked the sides with a spray bottle of SuperSoft2, placed the ribs between water soaked brown paper, added aluminum foil front and back, then spring steel front and back and into the Fox bender. I never had any luck letting the ribs dry after applying the SuperSoft2.
 
I use SSII and I brush it on and let it soak in. The effect lasts for a while so bending does not have to be done right away and some time lets the SSII penetrate. I used fabric softener mixed with water in a 1;1 ratio and had the wood soak in it for a few hours. Then I rinsed it off, toweled dry and blew dry with a hair dryer. Worked well enough but the SSII is better. I got some glycerin but never used it. I have heard people using it but not any firsthand account for bending sides. I would also be concerned about it and finishing.
 
Made up the solution of one part alcohol, two parts glycerin,four parts water.... soaked a couple of sides for a while, placed them in an envelope of absorbent paper then wrapped in foil...put them in the Foxy bender at a hotter than usual setting...guess what? Yup! Cracked again :mad:.only success so far is prebending on the hot pipe...The problem area is the 1" radius waist bend...no wonder they switched over to the Dreadnought / Ditson style.
 
Last edited:
Timbuck said:
Made up the solution of one part alcohol, two parts glycerin,four parts water.... soaked a couple of sides for a while, placed them in an envelope of absorbent paper then wrapped in foil...put them in the Foxy bender at a hotter than usual setting...guess what? Yup! Cracked again :mad:.only success so far is prebending on the hot pipe...The problem area is the 1" radius waist bend...no wonder they switched over to the Dreadnought / Ditson style.
Click to expand...
Ken, Try saturating just the waist area with thin CA glue prior to bending.
 
When I use the super soft I spray the sides or bindings down well and wrap in aluminum foil and let sit over night. And if they are really important and I don't want to take any chance I'll put them in a steam box as well for 15 minutes before rewraping in foil then to the bender. I have only had to go that whole crazy route once but it worked when nothing else did.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Timbuck
Veneer softener
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Rbee
R
C
Veneer softener
Replies
7
Views
1K
printer2
P
Ukecaster
Solid Veneer, Uncompromising Sound!
Replies
7
Views
291
Kenn2018
Kenn2018
LabRat_3k
Newbie Stewmac Kit: adding upgrades/bling .. peghead veneer thickness?
2 3
Replies
51
Views
2K
Island Jim
I
Ukecaster
Uke with veneer
Replies
15
Views
1K
Joyful Uke
J
Top Bottom