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and the one sold my Lmii?

They are both priced about the same, I was just wondering if they were the made by the same manufacturer or if they are in fact, exactly the same.

Thanks.

I have no idea as I don't own either, I just didn't want you to think you were being ignored. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Dont quote me... but i believe

the stew mac bending iron has a machined insert into the top. This is to accept the small bending attachment, for mandolin and fiddle...

where as the lmii doesnt have the threads or attachment. I also heard the lmii iron has more of a 'polished finish. (Easy to get the stewmac polished with a bit of sanding...)

I have the stew mac and use it all the time, really like it.

Joel.

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http://Michaudmade.com

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the LMI iron as well as the StewMac one are manufactured by the same company. There are other luthier supply houses that also sell the same iron. Other than what Joel said they all appear to be the same. I've seen these Irons referred to as the Ibex bending iron (same Ibex that makes the mini planes), but I've never been able to track down contact info for the manufacturer.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I've also been checking them out for my first build. But the reviews are kind of all over the place with them as far as temp goes. Anyone else here have any experience with either model for bending sides of guitars in woods such as rosewood, coco, bubinga, etc?

I may just build my own with a charcoal starter and pipe or the hot torch method, haven't decided yet.

As far as the quality and function of this bender goes, I bought one almost 10 years ago when I was starting out. I built my first 50 guitars using it and I bent everything on it (including lots of cocobolo). The aluminum does not heat perfectly even, but it has been plenty sufficient. About 3 years ago I upgraded to a fox style bender (Blues creek style), but I still use this iron almost every week to touch up sides and bend round cutaways. I think it is a fine bender for those who are starting out.

As a side note, I've got some guys here that are working on building a similar style bender made out of material that will heat more evenly than the aluminum. If and when it goes into production I'll be sure to announce it here. It is still a few months away at the earliest.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

I have the LMI and use it on occasion. Does a fine job allow 10 to 15 min to really heat up

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

At least that long for the iron to get at full heat. I run mine at full setting to get enough heat. Only used for touch up on side shapes and ebony binding.

Fred

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

I've had a Stewmac bender for at least 25 years and still use it a lot. In fact, even though I've used Fox style benders since I first used one up at Earthworks with Charles Fox back in the 70s, and I have used the newer blanket heated variants of the Fox bender, I still prefer bending on the Stewmac. There's just something about the tactile nature of bending on a "pipe" like the Stewmac bender, feeling the wood fibers let go and bend, that I really miss on the bending machines.

OK--If I'm working a really expensive piece of wood, I go for the blanket on a Fox style machine--it's solid, but otherwise it's a lot more fun to bend on the hot pipe.

Dave

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think I'll pull the trigger on the stewmac one, since there are a few other things from them I've been meaning to order.