The following is a pictorial help for making the cutaway press and is for use only for CoolTool customers who have purchased these drawings ...

Here is a view of the completed press.

Another view

The clamp part of the press screw needs a little modification.

Here are part of the side plates and the ram mount with the threaded part of the press screw mounted.

Here is the assembled self-conforming ram.

Making the ram.

Mist the side down pretty good with distilled water. It should be nearly dripping wet and especially at the waist and cutaway portions.

The side is wrapped in aluminum foil. If you are bending Koa or Black Acacia, use parchment paper instead of foil. Notice the mark where the center of the waist will be

I don't preheat, rather just slip in the bottom stainless steel slat. Then the side, the blanket and the other slat.

Before bringing the press screw down lightly on the stack, line up the center line of waist mark. When everything is in place, then turn on the blanket according to the instructions on the drawings.

Here, the waist and lower bout are fully pressed. I am working with the heat set at medium-high. Work slow-slow-slow.

Now the side is completely squeezed into the press. Reset the timer for 15 minutes and cook at medium-low..

Close-up of the cutaway press attached to the bending machine. Try this operation a couple of times with some scrap material before bending your expensive tonewood.