Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello All...

I am thinking about getting either a Fox bending machine from LMI or a Blues Creek machine. Either way, I am getting the cuttaway bender.

Questions:

1.) Is there a fundamental difference between the machines?
2.) Any differences between their cuttaway bender operations?
3.) In your folks experience, is bending a cuttaway side (or binding/purfling) for a Selmer style guitar (shown in pic) possible with these style of machines or is that something I would still need to do by hand?

I have been bending sides by hand without any major problems. My main issues are with bending binding and purfling (I use African ebony for binding and will continue to do so). The ability to bending of binding on the machine in a very consistent way is actually more important to me than side bending.

Thanks, Peter
(Bay Area, CA)

The LMI and Blues Creek benders are similar in design. Both are roughly based on the Fox model. The LMI version uses a bar and springs to pin the sides to the press screw and shoe. On the Blues Creek bender you have to line it up by hand and make sure it doesn't move during the bend. I have the Blues Creek system and I am used to it but I do like the spring system.

I also have the cutaway press, it works great. Just make sure your steel slats are tight when you bend.

And, I am absolutely positive you can bend the cutaway on a Selmer style guitar.

Either system will do the job fine for you. You really can't go wrong with either one.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com