Thanks Mallacoota Sorry, I was talking about using tick strips or other methods, but as you point out, if coppering is going on, it is not so critical as it will be covered from the water down anyway. For shaping I used to prefer spiling but have had equal success the past several years using the method you show in the first two photos. I did go from an iron to a hot air gun though as it is easier to control the temperature and covers the wood better than an iron. As a side note, tight grained woods like castello, box, and pear are much easier to bend compared to brittle woods like sapele still found in some kits. I soak the planks in water beforehand and it works much more easily.
Allan
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