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I've made a few using 1/2" aluminum rod which worked fine but after cleaning up the metal shavings all over my shop I wondered about just using hardwood dowel instead. Humidity is already pretty well controlled. Also, if some of the holes end up a bit proud of the surface they could be sanded back flush. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I use the same 3/4" plywood for both the sides and spacers of my bending forms. This is for use with a Fox style bender, and digitally controlled silicone heating blankets. In this case, I'm not looking for the aluminum rods to store heat energy they way you might if using a bending form that is heated internally by lightbulbs.







This setup has worked well for everything from highly figured maple to Ziricote.

Thanks Daniel. Wasn't thinking about heat transfer. Nice setup by the way. I like the way you slot the forms to index the waist.

I would think it would depend on the size of the dowel. If they are not firm enough to stay straight under the pressure of the springs, but bow or cup in the middle, your sides will cup and life will be more difficult after.

These days we use copper plumbing pipe, mostly because the outer diameter of 1/2" is convenient to drill with a brad point.

I've used aluminum bar stock in the past, as well as making a 3 layer form, with a form in the centre instead of connectors across the outside edge.

I started out using aluminum rod but have switched to 3/4" and 1" diameter wood dowels. Seems to work pretty well - Mike

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guitarsbygiltzow.com

When I start on a new size guitar I cut out its shape in MDF.



The outside becomes the mold



The inside becomes the bending form for my Fox bender

Wood works fine. However, there is slight variation in the wood ones and they can move a little causing them to sometimes be a little loose or tight. If I was planning to break them down and use the pins in different shapes, I would go with metal.

1/2" hardwood works fine.

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Pat

Doh! Brilliant! I hadn't considered that, yet it's completely obvious! One of the form building video's they cut up the pieces for using on the ends of the spreaders, and I was thinking of doing that. You just saved me some work!