b'Previous page: Left: This is one of about ten different heatedThis page: Top: This is fairly typical of how we start off. The formers for bending sides.They arent actually machines, theyformers take a while to heat up, and we cant put them away dont do the bending for you, and certain woods and certainwhile they are still hot, so it makes sense to bend several while shapes can still be very tricky. There are commercial benderswe can. This time there are five instruments, they may look very available made from plywood, but they are not for me, I can dosimilar, but there are actually three different body styles here and better. each one is a for a unique custom order.Previous page: Right: The bent sides usually need tweakingThe cutaway sections are made from the same length of wood a little on a hand bending iron so that they fit the mould withoutas the side, and is bent on a separate former, then adjusted to fit stress. If the order is for a completely new shape, then all theeach instrument. bending will be done by hand like this, or more likely, on a ratherRight: The two sides are trimmed to exact length, then more sophisticated version that I made more recently. There isconnected with wooden blocks that also form the neck joint and a picture of all the bending formers and irons at the end of thisfingerboard support. The blocks are not simple, the top block section, prepare to be impressed. comprises four sections, interlocking to satisfy several different functions. Even the bottom block is made from three sections.The corner block connecting the two parts of the cutaway was left square so that we could clamp it in place, here Paul is shaping it to a nice curve with a big long sharp chisel. A good piece of wood here is a delight to work on, but any wild grain makes it very difficult, as we dont have the access to work in different directions.Paul has to climb out through the sides to get home. Hes lucky, when I was a lad The aluminium stretchers that hold the sides in place are unique to Fylde. They remain in place until the body assembly is finished, then can be dismantled and removed through the soundhole.160'