Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi

Is anybody from you who use the following iron bending heater:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Bending- ... 74601.html

There is quite cheaper (50%) of the one in UK.
But I would like to ask about shape - is it OK? is different and quality of the stuff and of course effectiveness of the heat;)

Please let us some your experience;)

The shape looks good and that's a good deal. You never know with Chinese products till you try them. The only issue might be if you cook a heating element and need a new one.

The heating element is cheap c.a. 5 quid - no problem to buy and replace.
I have temperature's controller for Fox and I can connect the iron bending to it with themr connector and get control of the temperature
More important for me what is the material of the shape - probably aluminium - but the question is what is internally - full alluminium or space with heater like a big tube

Big tube is fine. I made mine out of a piece of aluminium from an aircraft strut. It's hollow and works great.

looks ok to me for the shape. No idea how well it heats or how evenly.
It sounds like you're OK with tinkering with a heating element and controller so I'd just build one from scratch. A piece of car exhaust pipe works great with a heater inside (make sure its not still attached to the car)

I try to find so,e tube/conduit in aluminium but in UK 1st it is not to easy buy cheap only one small part. If you buy you need to order more if u want buy small volume you pay much much more;)
I tried to find something but more companies ask for ordering more than 50 quid if less the costs of delivery are huge ;( finally the stuff from china can be cheaper;)

Under £10 from ebay for 200mm of 100 mm diameter aluminium tube incl postage.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aluminium-Round-Tube-50mm-55mm-57mm-63mm-65mm-70mm-75mm-100mm-165mm-2-3-4-6-5-/271581991178?var=570407739795&hash=item3f3b8c510a:m:m7CBuItPSl20_itKr7ToLAw
I just squashed it into an oval section in a vice, blanked off one end, and stuffed a BBQ lighter inside. Mount on some "scrap" ply and wooden studding with jubilee clips.
500watt, 240V £14.95 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Charcoal-Starter-Lighter-charcoal/dp/B0085Y9I6K
Controlled with a dimmer switch, 1000watt, £16
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=dimmer+switch+1000watt&LH_PrefLoc=1&_sop=2
Approx £45 the lot, been using mine for a couple of years.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Tube - OK I tried to find treated from one end but it can be mounted in another way
About heater - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121712672145? ... 1436.l2649
Dimmer - I don't need - I have controller with timer and temperature control system.
The problem was shape and tube - I have to check it maybe I will check and get 1 pipe and squash on vice;)
Could you put some photos?

Heater cartridge you put a link to - I can give you one!
Bought 2, burnt 1st one out first time I used it. Heat cartridges need to be fitted in a similar diameter hole in a solid block, usually aluminium for a bending iron. They need to have an efficient heat sink.
I thought I might get away with filling the tube with SS scouring pads, but they didn't seem to provide enough of a heat sink so it burnt out.
I did make one with a catering heating bulb like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CATERING-HALOGEN-HEAT-LAMP-BULB-500WATT-DOUBLE-JACKETED-GANTRY-LIGHT-118MM-R7-/231362300099?hash=item35de4488c3:g:dDoAAOxydyxSQMvs
But find the heat with the BBQ lighter quicker and more even (and you need to get a holder for the bulb/heatproof wiring as well, bit fiddly.
Maybe I can take some pics tomorrow, its a bit late today.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Some pics.
The tube itself is 325mm long, usable end the of bender about 180 mm.
Endplate is pop riveted on as you can probably see.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Did you think about aluminium foil put inside with heater?
It will better lead the temperature on the tube.

We use this every day -- scroll through to see more details and simple controller

http://acousticguitarconstructionforum. ... ?f=8&t=794

_________________
Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Yes I did actually.
But after my experience burning out the cartridge, I though it might be better to leave it as it is, (and most of the others like this I've seen) as it is normally used in a place where it has a fair bit of air circulating.
It warms up fast and hot, and heats the business end quite evenly.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

What is the diameter of your pipe/tube?

100 mm originally.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Small question - the question is for people from UK
May I ask you where can I find to buy steel sprint sheet/strip with length 100cm, width 15 -20cm and thicknes 0.3mm? (I need for fox bender)
I try to find but I can't ;(
I found in germany but - hmmm + delivery is quite expensive;(

Of course it can be bigger size - I can cut it. (but thickness must be 0.3mm +-)

Is £11 total cost too much?
Heard of Ebay? Lots of stuff there, e.g.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-Steel-Sheet-Foil-Spring-B-100mm-x-Thick-0-01-1mm-1-4310-/171967921128?var=470858277726&hash=item280a163be8:m:mKSXM7RVDo2k-NtM3B38JXQ
Search "steel shim 0.3mm"

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

yes very hard to find 100cm length with width 15cm or 20 - what you send me is only max 30cm length and 10 cm width.

The strip with 10cm (100mm) width I can find on aliexpress - but not wider
If yes I need to buy 300kg of it ;(

Sorry, read dimensions as mm
Slats for side bender - I bought mine in UK, and they have a minimum order , so had to buy twice what I needed, 6 if I recall correctly.
I still have the other 3 kicking about the workshop somewhere.
What I bought was 150 mm X 915 mm, CS95 hardened and polished spring steel, 0.12"/0.3mm thick, http://springsteelstock.co.uk/
They were very helpful - Steve was the guy I dealt with, if he's still there..

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Thx
I"'ve sent question - now they have 152 mm x 1000mm x 0.3mm in their offer
Will see when receive answer - thx
In meantime I ask - do you have any good company with coloured veneers in UK - I fond quite good on http://www.thewoodveneerhub.co.uk/
and do you have any good company with tonewood about which you can tell me;)

That's the same company I use normally for veneers.
Tonewood suppliers. Lots. Googling "guitar tonewood uk" gets you https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=guitar%20tonewood%20uk Quite a few, mostly good, although prices and quality vary. Best to visit yourself and inspect if it's practical.
The bulk of my tops I've bought direct from abroad, several at a time usually. It's economic and I've always had good quality.
What are you looking for - a starter set to build with? A kit? ? ?
I would just mention that if you need to cut/drill that spring steel, it needs diamond cutters or special drills.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I have answer about steel - t is very expensive ;(
one sheet 152x1000 mm thickness 0.3mm - price 74 quid ;( + 15 delivery - very expensive because I can buy in gemrnay
850x145x0.3 (1 pcs) for 35 quid + 14 quid delivery
Quite huge difference;(
About tonewood - may I ask you from where did you buy - abroad) and did you pay any customs?

How many bending slats do you need? Usually 2 for light bulb bender, 3 for blanket bender.
I really don't have the time to list all the suppliers I've used and know off. but could give you a recommendation or 2 if you give me an idea what you want to buy.
As it's a first guitar, perhaps you might be interested in this - UK supplier, kit for classical guitar, discount for a "bulk" buy, more or less all in one, upgrades available. Very reasonably priced.
And as a first time builder, and not really knowing how many you intend building. I would suggest using a bending iron. It's always good to have one even if you go on to use a fox bender.
http://www.luthiersupplies.co.uk/dcguitar_kits_4.htm
Oh, and one question.
Do you have humidity control??
If not, I would strongly suggest you do something about that, before starting.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

OK - I understand - I want 2 slats if I can 3 - now I have bulb bender but I plan to buy blanket but not now.
I'm looking for the tonewood for classical guitar - at the begining all parts dedicated/prepared for guitars.
Mostlu Spruce and mahogeny and ebony.
but if you now somebody who sell quatersawn timer it can be usefull as well - I have tools/machinery on which I can cut.