Episode 117 ) Mandolin Tops, Backs and Bending Sides

[@dianelawless7387]

This is the best part of my Saturday, waiting for and watching my mandolin being built from the beginning. Can't wait til next week now. Thanks Audey!!

[@alandust2188]

Always enjoy seeing your jigs in action and never disappointed in what you share...thanks!

[@davidfluke8273]

I have mandolin 3 cream color from last batch and love it Play it almost everyday. The workmanship is great and Audey is a fantastic person. We picked it up at his shop and had a great time talking with him. I look forward to Saturday postings of new videos still and looking up past videos to watch from years ago.

[@francisguitarrepair]

Backs are looking good! Getting those joints tight is fussy work, for sure. Those side bending jigs are just a work of art. Amazing to see those strips bend around those curves like that. Have a good week!

[@waltersguitars3336]

Thank you MR Ratliff love these videos!!

[@RatliffMandolins]

Glad you like them!

[@joelosborne3284]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@davidbamford3573]

I like the side bending jigs. That was a fun video to watch thanks

[@jeffgrier8488]

Thanks for taking the time to shoot the video, i enjoyed it as always. See you next week!

[@theluthiersapprentice3309]

Questions, questions, questions! How thick are the sides when you bend them? Is the bending video real time? How long does it take to get the bending jigs up to working temperature? What is the bending temperature? How long do the sides need to stay in the bending jig before moving to molds? Cheers and very Well Done! Just do one thing for me and your other fans: Please, please wear a mask.

[@RatliffMandolins]

Some maples have to be thinner to bend without breaking, but I usually start with the side thickness of .110. I don't know the temperature of the molds but I wait until a drop of water boils immediately. The big mold usually takes 21 minutes to heat up and the small one takes 9 minutes. I leave the sides in the warm mold until the next day.

[@eagledan31]

Did you make those bending jigs yourself? Would love to see some closeups of them.

[@richardherrington3815]

Love Your Jigs for your side bending!!! When you've done as many Mandolins that you have you need to have built something to make the process a little easier!!! Hope next week you show how you cope out the sides and Backs to get them where they need to be!!! I have a question that others might find intertisting also!! Hope many points of reference and where on the tops and Bottoms do you micrometer those points!!! I would find that very interesting because your Mandolins have such a great tone and are very resounding!!!

[@AndyKeppel]

Yes...this. I have a few tops carved but im too chicken to call them good and move ahead with the builds...not sure if I got them right.

[@robertshorthill6836]

Planer knives are not hard to get as sharp as possible. It just takes. a little longer than most woodworkers want to put into the operation. It takes a jig to keep the knives at a consistant angle as they are honed to a fine edge. I have a bunch of sheets of wet/dry 400 grit German paper. That is as fine as I need to go and my knives stay sharp for many months.

[@waltersguitars3336]

That bending jig you had is ingenious, it’s amazing!!! Do you use any water or just the heat alone?

[@RatliffMandolins]

I wet the wood just before I bend it. I don't soak it, just wet the surface.

[@AndyKeppel]

Such a slick setup! Can I ask how thick you like your sides? I tried the recommendations from the Siminoff book on a bending iron and it was near impossible (maybe I'm just weak.) I've seen other Luthiers come in around .080-.090" Thankful for your wisdom!

[@RatliffMandolins]

I usually start with .108- 110