Thanks again guys.
Ron, I buy it already flattened. I think they do it with heat, maybe in hot water but don't quote me. Then clamp it. Of course, I'm sure I am paying for that extra work when I buy. But the stuff is pretty, tough, and easy to work. The only thing that is tricky is dialing the bark in to where the pattern is right as far as the guard goes. I work it from the inside and check the combined thickness and compare that to the guard's final width from the top view.