I finally got around to doing a venetian cutaway and it was pretty obvious that taking it out of the bender without putting tension on the cutaway was not going to be easy. I saw where Sylvan just holds the lower slat in with his hand but I was not too good at that. This is what I came up with and it worked great. A thin tough ribbon that won't stretch. Check your wife's sewing basket or rummage around in a fabric store for the right one. Figure out where the cutaway will fall on the side and put the ribbon in when you make your sandwich and anchor with spring clamps so it won't move.
After leaving the side in the bender 24hrs I tied the ribbon as tight as I could to rope cleats on the tower. I have a removable top on my bender so with the lower bout slat anchored too I could lift the side straight out with no tension.
Terry
Thanks!