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I need to add cutaway capability to my Fox bender (spring steel slats, heating blanket). Any recommendations for an attachment to add that will handle cutaways with a minimum amount of fussing around?

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

Do you mean you just need to buy the cutaway ram? John might sell you one from Bluescreek, and Kevin at bluemountainacoustics has them on the website.

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Yes, I need just the ram. If someone is using a really good version of this, I would like to hear about it.

_________________
Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

mine is pretty simple just a veneer press screw ...attaches to the side with a 1/4 inch rod that just slides in and out

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MK5acoustics.com

Mine'similar, not hard to make.




Good idea to devise a way to anchor the lower slat during removal so it does not pop out and damage the side. Having a removable top on your bender makes getting the side out easier.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I used a clamp like Terrance and Wes, bought the press at Grizzly, and made the wood support structure in my shop.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Veneer-Press-Clamp/H2597

Terrance,
is the red band coming out of the cutaway press what you use to hold the lower slat in place? I'm still looking for a good way to hold that slat. Almost broke a cutaway last time when that slat popped out.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Yes, it's just a piece of thin flat non-stretchable ribbon from my wife's sewing room. I put it between the wood and the lower slat when I clamp up the sandwich and run it through the guide slot in the mechanism. I put some little rope cleats on the side to anchor it. I also clamp the butt end of the lower slat with a couple of spring clamps taped to the frame of the bender with brown binding tape.
Here's a better shot. You can see the clamp on the butt end of the lower slat. It really shines when bending binding.




On my archtops there is enough flat runout after he cutaway on the bending form that I can just clamp the slat to the form with a C clamp

I clamp the lower slat on regular bends as well using the same method. Makes life a lot easier taking the side out.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Lee Valley has the press screws as well: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=31138&cat=1,43838,43845

Pat

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There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

I've also seen them in stock at at both Woodcraft and Rockler.

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Jason McGowan
M&S Guitars
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United States of America, looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies that save the trees and kill the children....
Casting Crowns

I hate to admit I haven't used mine yet (from Bluemountain, 2 years ago) but I saw John's (Bluescreek) and thinks his is patented to adjust, which helps the tight bends. I'd buy his now if I could go back! Perhaps a PM to him to see why his is different would help.

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Or simply bend the cutaway by hand on a hot pipe. Experience has shown me that doing cutaways on the hot pipe saves a lot of cracked sides.

I found that if i extend the "nose" of the cutaway form forward a few inches, it gives better support & concentrates the bend in the right place. If you want to try it, you don't have to make a new form, just glue & screw a block on the front of the one you have.
Worked for me, anyway...