Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey all, so I just upgraded from bending iron to bending machine (just finished building it) and all I have left is to buy the slats. I was wondering however, I have a huge roll of aluminum, I think they sell them at hardware stores for like gutter linings or something. I was wondering if that was something that could be used for this, or do I specifically need to get those steel slats.

Thanks you everybody!

My recommendation would be to get the spring steel slats. In my opinion, the spring resistance they provide offers important support for the wood during inside bends.

Pat

_________________
There are three kinds of people:

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

Maksim: That is what I use and it works but the slats tend to take the form of the mold. There may be an issue with certain woods re: staining IIRC but I have not had a problem. Maybe give it a try and see if you are happy and if not part with some money for the real macoy.
Tom

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

Well if it actually lined one of my molds with it, and when I took it off, I just sprung back. And plus, if it does work for you but takes the shape, I have a huge roll so I could keep cutting it up until I run out and can afford the spring steel, right?

I've bent dozens of sets with the same set.To me it's not a problem.
Tom

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

I bent my sides with them.

I plan to get spring steel when I can, but the aluminum worked. I may have gotten lucky, but it did work.

Ditto, use the alum flashing material on my heated CL guitar overholtzer bender.