How would you go about using the blankets though? Do you try to bend the top before you glue it on? Or do you glue the flat area then heat the curved part at the contour? Should you moisten the top or the bottom of the piece you're trying to bend?
You would use a heat blanket the same way you would any other heat source. Persaonally, I would clamp the top down to the body, place a moist piece of craft paper(you can soak the craft paper or just spritz it with water, depending on how much water you choose to use) under the blanket, turn the blanket on and monitor the temp. As it aproaches bending temp (you should start to see the steam rising as it is getting closer), leaving the blanket in place I would place a semi-firm board (maybe 1/4" ply) over the blanket, then lightly lightly press on the top to see if it has become flexable. If the wood is 1/8" thick the weight of the blanket and ply will actually start to make the wood bend(it will become that flexable). If it is 1/4" it would be a good idea to cycle the blanket several times to bring the temp up throughout the thicker piece, when it is ready it will bend with little force applied. After you have the wood bent as needed, lightly clamp it in place (it is best to clamp from the inner part of the body and work your way to the outer edge (to get a good match of surfaces). Allow the wood/heat heat blanket and all to remain clamped(again lightly is fine) overnight. After it has cooled it will hold the new shape and you will be able to glue the top to the body as normal, if there is slight springback on the bent part you can go ahead and glue and clamp it (the springback should not require much clamping force to overrcome).
Peace,Rich
Thanks Rich I have all these I ideas I want to do with that walnut and a drop top strat is looking pretty tempting! How easy do you think the walnut will be to bend?