Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey Folks,

I recently returned from four week Guitar Building Course at Pembina Valley Luthiers in La Riviere, MB under the tutelage of Jeremy Hamm and now that I'm home I'm collecting the tools I need and beginning construction on the various jigs I will need to continue this obsession.

First up, the Fox Style Bender. Everything is coming along great, following the "plans" from the back of Jim Williams' book and the many pictures I took while in La Riviere. My only real issue is obtaining spring steel to use as the bending slats. I realize that I can purchase these (I know John Hall sells them) but seeing as I'm at the beginning of this adventure and there are SO many things to buy, I'm trying to cut costs where I can. I've got to be able to get some spring steel locally and have it cut, no? What are some common uses for spring steel? Where might find some?

Thanks for your help,


Dustin

Industrial supply places like McMaster & MSC will have steel.

You'll need to determine which alloy & how thin.

Your average metal yard probably wont' have it in stock & will require you buy a large sheet then they'll chargeto cut it assuming they have equipment that can do thin stock without causing the edges to pucker.

Unless you're lucky, I think you'll only save about $10 and spend a lot of time & gas as opposed to buying from John or another luthier supply.

Just my opinion.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Agreed - I searched high and low for someone local to supply to no avail.
Ended up with John's spring steel slats and could not be happier.

Make sure you wrap your sides in foil before bending to avoid discoloration.
Bubinga especially will turn jet black....

I just use 6" wide aluminum flashing. Have not measured thickness and aqm not able to right now but would guess about .015".
Tom

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

Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated.

So, I've heard aluminum flashing and I've also heard galvanized heat duct sheeting. Is anyone able to give me more of a clearer picture on thickness?

I am not a fan of spring steel. I use stainless steel. When I first started out, after building my bender (which at the time used light bulbs), I went to Lowes and bought a stainless steel splash guard (for the kitchen). It was 36" wide and perhaps 30" tall. Perfect thickness. I also bought a metal cutting blade for the table saw (one of those black carbide things). Maybe I lost you at the table saw part, but at the time, I did not have a table saw, so I used a circular saw. Since then, I have acquired a table saw and use that now. I cut my slats 6" wide, then filed down the edges. I still use those same slats. Total investment was $35 (including the blade).

I will say that cutting the metal is a noisy, messy process.

Mike

I use aluminum flashing (beaten flat) but I use a light bulb bender (300 w).

Bob

I have both spring steel and aluminum. I prefer the aluminum slats. If you know anyone in the building industry, you could possibly get your slats for next to nothing. Mine are from left over scraps of coil stock. Aluminum coil stock is used for flashing and fascia primarily, shouldn't be too difficult to find.

Chuck

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What ever happened to the original Fox Bender Plans? I can't find the site for them.

Mike