Official Luthiers Forum!

I am almost finished my side bender except for the waist shoe, I have looked at a lot of photos on the web and can not find any detail on this. It looks on some like a stack of 1/4 or 1/8 hardboard that can be adjusted to mate with the waist shape on the form. Could someone post a photo or a drawing of this detail.

Thanks
Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I haven't got a picture or drawing, but what I do is make a seperate waist shoe for each bending form.

Steve

Fred these pics are of an old LMI plan for a Fox Bender. You could also use a solid caul such as a roller pin depending on your needs.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Thanks guys, as always OLF comes through with info

Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Fred, the Fox bender was designed for use with light bulbs as a heat source. The aluminum (I think) shoe leaves served a dual purpose. First, they could be adjusted to whatever shape of guitar waist you are making. Second, the method, when using light bulbs, is to put the 2 slats in place (without the wood), screw down the shoe and bring theslats into contact with the former, thus effectively enclosing the light bulbs. You then switch on the lights and let the whole thing heat up. When it's hot, you release the slats and wind the shoe back up. You then quickly insert the wood and start winding back down and it's the heat in the shoe leaves that starts bending the wood at the waist.

Todd's advice to use a wooden shoe block is fine if you use a heating blanket instead of the bulbs as he, and most others, do now. I think a wooden shoe block and light bulbs may be a recipe for broken sides. I may be wrong as I've never tried it. Perhaps if Todd's still listening he could let us know what he thinks.

Todd,

What is your method of making your waist caul? I made one using the pattern routing method you show in your solid form bending tutorial, but after a couple of times with the router snatching the piece out of my hands I decided that I am missing some sort of safety procedure and need to come up with a new approach.

But on the up note, I still have all my fingers and a waist caul.

Thanks,

John