Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:14 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Springs for side benders
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:42 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2021 1:01 pm
Posts: 3
First name: James
Last Name: Merideth
City: Ames
State: Iowa
Zip/Postal Code: 50014
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I am building a side bender similar to the Fox style. I haven’t been able to find anything definitive on what type of springs to use on the bender. Not ever sure how springs are specified. Any enlightenment would be appreciated.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:53 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:44 am
Posts: 5398
First name: colin
Last Name: north
Country: Scotland.
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
I just used springs from a chest expander.

_________________
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 9:21 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2021 1:01 pm
Posts: 3
First name: James
Last Name: Merideth
City: Ames
State: Iowa
Zip/Postal Code: 50014
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Had to look on line to see what a chest expander was. Yes, lots of springs. So you just cut them down to size and bend out a loop to attach to the eyebolt on the bender? If not strong enough just cut a little more off?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2021 1:26 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:44 am
Posts: 5398
First name: colin
Last Name: north
Country: Scotland.
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Exactly.

_________________
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.



These users thanked the author Colin North for the post: Jammer (Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:44 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 4:06 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:21 am
Posts: 3288
First name: Brad
Last Name: Combs
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
If you have a local Ace hardware, one that has all the little drawers of nuts and bolts, there is a drawer or springs. When I built a uke bender I literally took it into the store to try a few different sizes until I hit paydirt.

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 4:19 pm 
Offline
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
John Hall Blues Creek may have them, he used to.

_________________
Ann Arbor Guitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 7:19 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2021 1:01 pm
Posts: 3
First name: James
Last Name: Merideth
City: Ames
State: Iowa
Zip/Postal Code: 50014
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks everyone for the further input. I did find bender spring sets on John Hall’s site but had already found some springs that seem to work at Ace Hardware. Tested the unit out today and had some significant problems with temperature control. I had purchased the router speed control unit from Rockler as recommended in several places on the web I had visited. The heating mat I purchased had a built-in variable dial delineated in Centigrade but testing it alone, it seemed to be totally useless. I just set it to max and was depending on the router controller. Temp was pretty variable and at one point got as high as 350 F and saw some smoke (maybe only steam?) but the walnut ukulele side I was testing seemed to come out fine. The process must be a bit more forgiving than I anticipated. Time will tell I guess. I will be closing out this thread after a few more days as I move on to other issues, i.e. neck tenon routing jig.



These users thanked the author Jammer for the post: CraigG (Sun Feb 27, 2022 2:36 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com