Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everybody!

I just finished my own classical shaped bending machine. Pretty simple: a first layer of stainless steel retain by a MDF form, enforced with aluminium rods. Two more stainless layer to "sandwich" the sides, and cherry pieces to push the side down the mold. (they are butterfly nut, but will be remplaced by regular nut (like the big one) to be forced with a screwdriver-ratchet).

So, my question, that is more a poll...

Do you guys have several molds, or only have one or a few (example: 1 classical, 1 OM, 1 dread), and do some hand touchups on the bending iron?

Thanks!
Francis

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

I'm somewhat of a newb and I already have two molds, a parlor and an OM. The way I see it you will have as many molds as you have an interest in building different sizes of guitars. I've not experienced the need for pipe bending touch ups (yet!)everything I have done so far was with a silicone blanket and then inserted into my mold.

Although I started with a bending iron, I just ordered a Fox style bendernwith 3 sets of molds. For me, it's how many you are comfortable making....semi-pros and pros probably need 10 to 20, but I am happy with 3 (Dread, OM and Grand Auditorium). They all have cutaways too. For now and the forseeable future, I don't have the need for any more. Most of people I know who want a guitar don't realize there are more than a dreadnought shape

I must admit as a guitar player, I didn't know a J200 from an OM either. However, I suppose anyone in the market for a handbuilt guitar would probably know the difference!!

Are you planning on mass production or a guitar or two a year?


Laurie

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

I'm not planning a mass production, but planning to build different types/styles of guitars. In fact, the mold I built was at school, based on me teacher's model (him-self based on Torres). He told me that, for the classical side of my buidling, I won't need more than this mold, 'cause classical guitars are pretty standart, except few little differents that aren't so big, then they can easily be done on the bending iron.

I know I couln't do a Dread on a classical mold, or a OM on a dread one, but, some models are pretty similar...
I guess that in an ideal world, and when you have the money, the best way is to have a mold for every single model, so little the difference can be. But, since I'm not so experienced and that i'm not planning to build over few guitars a year, If I have to build or to buy a mold for each guitar under construction, It'll be such a loss of time and money ( Yhea, it's a investment... but sometimes you just don't have to money to invest)

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

Just three...!
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!