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Hi,
I am building a side bender from the drawings in the Jim Williams book and am at the stage when I need to to find the springs which in the UK is going to be hard going It's almost impossible to get 100 and 150 watt bulbs, I know the springs need to 6" x 1" and 4" x 1" what need to know is what wire gauge they should be made of, so if anyone has made one of these benders maybe they coould let me know.
Thanks Jerry.

im guessing that its similar to the "fox bender" im going
to make one too down the road
old fold out couch beds is where im going to get them from
in some recycling centre or bonfire night mabye
they look bout the same size as the one john mayes uses
in his vid good luck tomas

I made a Fox type bender but I just use clamps, no springs. I got the idea from Grumpy, I think.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I just built a side bender similar to that one and the springs are not all that critical, just go to the local hardware store and find something that seems like it will stretch far enough and extend to at least 2 times its at rest length and place the mounts where needed for that amount of stretch. The pull required is not real critical but must be firm enough to hold the bar tight against the slats. As for light bulbs, get a heat blanket, they are so much better, I have bent 2 sets of sides plus a couple practice bends and have had not problems it sure beats the heck out of hot pipe bending

Fred

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

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all your help and advice, I think I've found a spring supplier online that looks promising, I am going to stick light bulbs for now as this my first attempt at guitar building and hopefully upgrade to a silicone blanket at a later date also the exchange rate may be better by then. Thanks again Jerry.

you really need 200W clear bulbs in my experianced opinion and you need to control them (each) by a dimmer. When you get bent around the form the waist and upper bouts are very close to the bulbs. You need to beable to reduce them by about 50% during the set cook.

Hello Jerry,
I live in Hastings UK,I made a Fox side bender about 8years ago. I use 150w light bulbs (they are still for sale on Ebay). The springs I brought from Ashfield Sprigs Ltd. (they are on line). The bender exceeded my expectations . There is a good artical in the LMI handbook which is unfortunately not printed anymore. I could copy it if you need it. Also make sure you use pocelien bulb holders ,the bulbs get very hot. Try experimenting on some cheap wood first. Good luck. Rick

Here's one I made earlier

Jerry,
I made the williams bender and got the lamps at Lowes.
I got the springs at the neighborhood hardware store.
For the waist, I got 3" x .075" (hook end to hook end).
For the upper and lower bouts I got 4" x .075".
Even though I've only practiced on oak, these springs seem to be perfect and the bender works as advertised.

Rene

If you can't find springs that will work for you, 1/4" or larger bungee cord works great. (Get the good stuff from a marine supplier)
Make eyes on the ends by wrapping with wire... Ty-Wraps work too. (Again, buy the good ones.)

If I haden't already built my fox style side bender, I would build a Doolin style bender.

Its basically the same idea, except much more simple. No springs, no screw press, less plywood. Smaller size to store in your shop-->Reason I'm about to chop off the "screw press" off mine.
It uses a clamp to hold on the waist caul and long clamps or threaded rod going from front to back to hold down the end cauls.

http://www.proulxguitars.com/buildup/build1.htm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to vaguely remember Doolin being cretided for simplifying the Fox bender (construction) like this.