Client Projects and Steam Bent Guitars

Dive into the latest Maker's Quest podcast where Brian Benham details his epic root-over-rock chess table build and Greg Porter reveals his new guitar side-bending machine. A deep dive into custom woodworking and luthiery.

Hosted by Brian Benham from Benham Design Concepts

https://www.benhamdesignconcepts.com/

Brian's Blog https://www.briansbenham.com/ Brian Benham on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/benhamdesignconcepts.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXO8f1IIliMKKlu5PgSpodQ

Greg Porter from SkyScraper Guitars

https://skyscraperguitars.com/ Greg On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsgaragekc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SkyscraperGuitars  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GregsGarage

 

Welcome back to the Maker's Quest podcast! In our latest episode, hosts Brian Benham and Greg Porter reconnect after a short hiatus, diving deep into the projects that have been consuming their time and creative energy. From the intricate challenges of custom furniture to the precise engineering of luthiery tools, this conversation is a masterclass in problem-solving and passion.

Catching Up and a Note from Greg

Greg kicks things off with a heartfelt apology for his voice, which is understandably rough. He’s been battling long Covid for over a year, which has led to lung issues requiring a steroid inhaler. “Whatever steroids are in that inhaler just barbecue my vocal cords,” he explains. It’s a poignant reminder of the very real, human challenges that creators often push through to pursue their craft.

Brian's Monumental Vegas Project: The Root Over Rock Chess Table

The centerpiece of Brian’s update is a project he’s just wrapped up and delivered: a stunning, one-of-a-kind chess table for a client in Las Vegas.

The concept was a "root over rock" bonsai-inspired base supporting a glass-topped chess table. What sounds like a beautiful idea in a render became one of the most patience-testing projects of Brian’s career.

The Challenge of the Scribe: The entire base consists of sculpted walnut roots and a trunk that had to be meticulously scribed to fit perfectly around an amorphous rock form. The killer detail? It’s visible on all sides.

"There is no really good place to cheat it to the back," Brian says. "It just took a long time. There is a point halfway through where I was like, I don't know if this is going to turn out well... did I over-commit my skills?"

He estimates a staggering 40-60 hours were spent on the scribing process alone. The project also required ingenious fixturing to use his CNC machine as a mill to create flat surfaces on the round trunk for the branches to join, battling software safety features along the way.

In the end, the client was thrilled. The final piece, which pairs his walnut and wenge woodwork with a stunning silver-and-copper chessboard sourced from an artist in Mexico City, is a testament to the power of seeing a daunting vision through to completion.

A Lesson in Design Collaboration: Brian also highlighted a small drawer on a accompanying vanity piece. The client insisted on a specific, sleek look that prioritized form over deep function, requiring Brian to modify hardware to fit. It was a perfect example of the collaboration and compromise inherent in custom work.

"If you are just rigid on your own ideas, you're probably not going to end up with a good design," Brian notes. "It'll be very boxed-in."

Greg's Luthiery Deep Dive: Engineering the Perfect Guitar Bender

On the other side of the maker spectrum, Greg has been deep in the world of guitar building, specifically focused on solving a complex problem: building a better side-bending machine for acoustic guitar cutaways.

The Cutaway Conundrum: A guitar’s cutaway (the scooped section near the neck) allows for easier access to higher frets but presents a major bending challenge due to its tight, compound curves. Greg’s goal was to create a machine that is not only effective but also a joy to use—a tool that produces repeatable, predictable results for both hobbyists and professionals building guitars worth tens of thousands of dollars.

His new design features a unique hinged ram that bends the wood linearly, capturing it gradually rather than pressing from the center and hoping for the best.

"It starts at one end and it kind of linearly bends it down into the form... it's the only one that'll be on the market that has that feature."