Show us your bending jig.

Chris Ensor · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:42 am

I am thinking about switching for the old hot pipe to a bending machine. So let's see your bending jig.

Alain Moisan · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:22 pm

meddlingfool · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:26 pm

Standard issue from Blues Creek. Love it? Oh yeah!

Rod True · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:43 pm

I made my own based on Mike Doolin's, here's a thread from 2006 with some good discussion on it...

Fred Tellier · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:25 pm

Mine was built from looking at pictures of other peoples benders on the internet, not real pretty but works well. I added the PID controller and thermocouple after bending a couple sets of sides as I felt a better temperature control and a timer would be safer. I use John Hall's blankets and slats and make my own bending forms. There is also a cutaway ram which I bolt on when needed.

Fred

gozierdt · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:35 pm

I also have one of John Hall's bending jigs. It's first class construction. I make my own forms, and I
added a cutaway attachment with a clamping screw from Grizzly. I just added a second blanket to try
bending with blankets on both sides of the wood. I also built a PID controller to give me better
temperature control- I used a relay to be able to control both blankets at once (the two blankets
pulled more amperage than the PID could handle on it's own).

Robbie_McD · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 8:58 pm

meddlingfool wrote:

Standard issue from Blues Creek. Love it? Oh yeah!

Ditto...

DennisK · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:22 pm

So tempting to record a video of dancing a jig whilst bending on a hot pipe laughing6-hehe

I'm hoping I never have to switch to a heating blanket setup, but unless I can get my bending time down soon, I might just give up and do it. I was hoping it'd get faster with more practice, but I seem to just get slower and slower every guitar gaah

And still, my bindings don't come out gap-free after gluing :cry:

You might check with Grant Goltz (username whitespruce over at luthiercom.org). I'm not sure exactly what his bender is like, but whatever he does works extremely well, getting a tight cutaway in snakewood, and another in cocobolo with a bunch of long voids in it without splitting :shock:

Quite an interesting build http://www.luthiercom.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=3384&start=0

JSDenvir · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:51 pm

+1 for John Hall.

Steve

Chris Ensor · **Posted:** Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:09 pm

Thanks for the replies. I will be making my own. For those of you who make their own, do you make it solid the full width, or do you use slates to bridge the gap? Thanks.

brazil66 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:49 am

Blues Creek...unmodified. Perfect.
A friend recently bought the new LMI deluxe bender. After checking IT out....I'm glad I didn't go with that unit.

ZekeM · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:13 am

Chris,

I'm also planning on building one soon an have asked the same question about the slats. Only I just asked myself (I conversate with my self quite often). I came to the conclusion that it is not necessary to have the forms solid across. Slats will work fine because the wood will be supported and have pressure all the way across. I think it will save a lot of time making the forms not to have to make them solid. Like I said this is all theory and I have no experience quite yet. Hope that helps.

bluescreek · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:44 am

First may I say thanks to all the kind words.

As for patterns I have used 3 different ways , Solid , hollow and a middle pattern.
I will say it depends on a few things , If you use aluminum slats, you need to go solid as there is no strength . I like the open patterns as they allow a faster cool down and I can get the sides out of the bender sooner. I can also reach in and feel the heat so what it comes down to is the economy of the design . Also the open forms can be taken apart for storage. I have like 40 of them hanging off the shops rafters .
Also when you look at heating blankets , not all blankets are the same . The way they are made and wattage are important. The slats I use are plenty strong and support the sides well. I will also add that 80% of the bend is wood selection. You will soon find out who has the best wood. RC Tonewoods and Colonial as my 1st choice if I don't resaw my own wood. Finding a good supplier is very important.

Joe Beaver · **Posted:** Mon Dec 31, 2012 2:10 am

I just finished this bender. It is inspired on LMI's new machine.

The waist screw, blankets and controller are all from LMI.

So far I have bent three sets using this shape. One flamed claro walnut, on pau ferro, and one flamed koa. So far it has worked great! (knock on wood)

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