Corset Forum and Chat: Spoon busks

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   I'm thinking about getting a corset designed for tighter lacing in probably a couple of months when I'll hopefully have more money and be a bit more waist trained. I've seen descriptions of this one  http://www.corsetheaven.com/shop/item_show.asp?code_no=V173u M saying that the spoon busk allows for it to be laced tighter, but I've never noticed any specialist tightlacing corsets with a spoon busk. Does it really help?

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GothicTechie Senior Member Joined: 30 June 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 769	Topic: Spoon busks Posted: 08 July 2006 at 4:24pm
	I'm thinking about getting a corset designed for tighter lacing in probably a couple of months when I'll hopefully have more money and be a bit more waist trained. I've seen descriptions of this one http://www.corsetheaven.com/shop/item_show.asp?code_no=V173u M saying that the spoon busk allows for it to be laced tighter, but I've never noticed any specialist tightlacing corsets with a spoon busk. Does it really help?
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zefeena Moderator Group Joined: 11 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 370	Posted: 09 July 2006 at 2:04pm
	Spoon busks are not really recommended for tight lacing. I am not exactly sure why this is, but possibly as the busk has a curve vertically (it curves in toward the stomach), the pressure placed on it by extreme tightlacing is not going to be evenly applyed to all the studs, therefore making it more likely to snap. they do allow for a closer fit to the body, though as they follow the contours more, so particularly for those who do not have a wash board tum, i think they are preferable.
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Asenath Groupie Joined: 31 March 2005 Location: Germany Online Status: Offline Posts: 56	Posted: 19 July 2006 at 9:27am
	zefeena is absolutely correct, I have heard stories of snapped spoon busks from various corsetieres and in general those ladies now refuse to use spoon busks for tightlacing corsets. Here's an interesting alternative which is strong and yet more comfortable than an average straight busk: Get a single-width steel busk or a conical busk and an underbusk and bend them both into a spoon shape. I know two corsetieres who do this and have to say it's the most comfortable busk solution I have ever come across.
	Amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic
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Zoggi Senior Member Joined: 07 July 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 490	Posted: 21 July 2006 at 6:12pm
	Asenath - do you mean something like this: http://www.corsetsandcrinolines.com/Tidbits/November20 04/pix/curvedbusk.jpg Would bending the busk require the pattern to be shaped differently, to fit over the rounded tummy? How does one actually go about bending a busk? It would be an expensive mistake if it snapped! Edited by Zoggi
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Asenath Groupie Joined: 31 March 2005 Location: Germany Online Status: Offline Posts: 56	Posted: 23 July 2006 at 9:32pm
	The picture doesn't work for me! You can see what I mean quite well in this picture though: Curved busk on a reproduction corset You can see how the busk curves outwards right under the waist and then back inwards at the very bottom. About the pattern shaping - I have no idea! I have seen corset patterns from the 1860s to 1880s with slightly curved center front seams but I think this was only to accommodate the abdomen even better. I just tried it myself with a short single-width steel busk I still have lying around here and think it would need a LOT of force to make it snap. One has to be careful though in order to make sure the curve in the busk is smooth.
	Amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic
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