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Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=17132	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Rick Cowan [ Fri May 09, 2008 11:07 am ]
Post subject:	Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
Good afternoon OLFers, I might be giving this more thought than it deserves but I am curious what material you folks use for your moulds, bending profiles and jigs - MDF, plywood (baltic or similar)? I have had experience with MDF in other applications and while easy to work with I wonder about its longevity/robustness. I plan on having these things around for a while and wondered what your recos would be. My sense is with jigs a high quality plywood design is going to retain its accuracy much longer than MDF. Thanks for your collective wisdom! Rick

Author:	Barry Daniels [ Fri May 09, 2008 11:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
MDF has greater resistance to warping than plywood, so I use a lot of it for jigs, radius dishes, etc. Seal it with several coats of shellac and it will be a lot more durable.

Author:	TonyKarol [ Fri May 09, 2008 11:40 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
well Rick .. as you will see when you get here in Sept, I have a collection of whatever happens to be around !!!! My earliest molds are all MDF, I have bowls that are MDF and ply, some smaller jigs are baltic ply. If I could have, and spared no expense, it would all be baltic ply though.

Author:	Terence Kennedy [ Fri May 09, 2008 12:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
I use a lot of "fibercore" I think it's called. MDF with a laminate of birch on either side. It's worked great for me so far. Terry

Author:	Arnt Rian [ Fri May 09, 2008 1:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
I like particle board, it works fine for moulds, dishes, bending forms and such. Baltic plywood for my Fox bender though.

Author:	Don Williams [ Fri May 09, 2008 3:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
A friend of mine makes fantastic solid bending forms and molds using mdf, with 1/4" tempered hardboard on both sides for durability. They are really solid, last pretty much forever unless they get wet, and look really cool too. If he can't find 1/4" tempered, he gets the 1/8" stuff and lamintates them to 1/4" using poly glue. Once the cnc gets up and running (not holding my breath) I'm going to make all new molds and forms the same way.

Author:	peterm [ Fri May 09, 2008 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
For me, I try to make as much out of Baltic Birch as I can.

Author:	Mattia Valente [ Fri May 09, 2008 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
Can't say my now 4 year old MDF mold is any worse for wear; has a few coats of finish on it, and it's stable. three layers of 22mm MDF glued together, solid forms for the bender also made of MDF. They're plenty sturdy enough, and cost significantly less than quality ply. It's not like these are terribly high-strain parts; pair of spreaders in the molds, and in my case, in a good year, bending 4 sides per year, per shape.

Author:	Mike OMelia [ Fri May 09, 2008 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
Where can one obtain plans for the Fox Bender (or fox-like)? Mike

Author:	Hesh [ Fri May 09, 2008 5:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
Mike buddy here you go: http://www.michelettiguitars.com/Images/Sales.htm#Cutaway%20Press

Author:	Rick Cowan [ Sat May 10, 2008 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
Gentlemen, Thanks for sharing your collective wisdom! Rick

Author:	Mike OMelia [ Sun May 11, 2008 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
Well, lets see. I bought the plans for the bender, cutaway attachment, spanish press, and the williams jig. Just found out that there is a woodshop on the Redstone Arsenal base (where I work) that I can use. Great way to learn the power tools, and what I will want to buy down the road. Mike

Author:	Dave Fifield [ Mon May 12, 2008 4:08 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
MDF dust is nasty stuff, even with good dust control measures being taken - I try not to use it at all in my 'shop. Baltic birch for me anytime. Dave F.

Author:	Daniel M [ Mon May 12, 2008 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Moulds, Jigs - Recommended Materials
Also... MDF makes fine dishes, but you need to be careful when removing the sandpaper or you can damage the surface. I use a heat gun (now, after ruining one dish... even with several coats of varathane on it) to warm up the worn sandpaper & gently peel it off. If the budget was unlimited, I'd use Baltic birch for everything.

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