Official Luthiers Forum!

   Contact me at tippie@epix.net
there are new instructions complete with pic. it is a .wps file. Anyone that wants one please contact me at my email and put bender info in the subject line.
   Yours
john
PS Heating blanket on top.

Hesh, don't worry....it happens to us all!
Its very common the first time.....with all the excitement we get carried away and don't take our time.

Make sure you buy a digital thermometer so you know when to bend and for me it helps to wrap the wood in craft or wax paper to keep the moisture and steam in the wood.

Don't get discouraged.....it will be better next time.

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

What a drastic improvement on the second one. Congrats, you are one side bending man. Emphasis on the "ONE". We know how thrilled you are. My first were all hand bent over a pipe, which is very useful to be able to do that as well. Yeehaa Hesh, yeehaa!

_________________
http://www.dickeyguitars.com

How about making a one sided guitar and calling the other side a "sound port"?


Hesh, were the sides the same thickness?

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Just thought I'd add my two cents....

I find the machine works much better when you sandwich the wood, kraft paper and heating blanket between two pieces of SS sheet metal. Clamp the whole mess together and heat to 300 and then put the screws to it.
I let it cool after it is fully in the form for about 15 min then reheat it, cool and reheat it again.

If your wood is the right thickness and you have the right amount of water it should be about medium rare. Serve with chilled wine.....

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I am confused ast why the lead in portion of the blanket ( the part with out coils) would be in the bending area. My blanket is 36". A good 1 1/2" heated area clears both edges of the planks even on a dread.

My first try was with light bulbs I rushed the waist cause I did not let the wood get hot enough. My second goof was quilted Maple. major figure checking. Some 30 sets later it is near second nature.

Hesh, if it can bring a bit of sun...Lst year, when i started, i steam bent my first plywood sides and it was the coolest thing that me and my Dad ever did together!

Here's a pic of my first bending machine with kettle option





You know what Hesh, we have this in common friend, we are 2 lucky resourceful guys!

Good luck with the real deal my friend!

SergySerge Poirier38768.0057638889

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] ...since this is my thread the second one is the one I will remember. This is kind of like golf in that respect……
[/QUOTE]

I know what you mean, Hesh. Sort of like my first summer golfing when I missed a hole-in-one by about two inches. I can barely remember the following three putt from 2 feet
Anyway, congrats! Looks like you'll have the touch figured out in no time. I recently took John's advice and started using kraft paper next to the wood. It eliminated the staining I got from aluminum foil.

You`re on your way now, Hesh. Might wanna think about keeping a gal that`ll buy you a bender! Or does she use it for a curling iron when you`re not lookin?

_________________
Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Maybe you could use the cracked one on the bottom<g>

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

INSTRUCTION
                              GUIDE

              BLUES CREEK GUITARS
                        
       

                244 FOREST DRIVE
            

                   HEGINS   PENNA
                            17938


570-682-8046   FAX 570-682-3962
                            

Please remember that all safety rules need to be followed. Always check the wiring for damage. Never let the machine unattended. This will involve heat so please be careful as the hearing blankets can attain 400 degrees F.
      All temps mentioned will be in F. Heating blanket bender will heat much faster than light bulb units. The bulb units may not heat as much as the light bulbs use refractive heating. Blankets use contact.

ASSEMBLY
    Screw the base into the main frame with the drywall screws. The press screw will attach through the top. The 2 springs are to allow you to remove the cawl to pull the pattern and sides out as you bend without having to turn the press screw all the way up.
PATTERN
     The hole under the waist is kept open for pinning the pattern into the machine. The tangent holes will receive the ?” tubing. I use a hammer and tap one side in then set the other side on top and tap down.

BENDING.
        First thing is to identify the sets show side and waist location. I will use chalk and mark the outside of the set. The waist reference is usually 12 “ in from the neck joint. 

        This is a figured set of wood and I use a different technique. I will use wet paper to help my steam time. With well quartered wood the paper isn’t needed.    From this point I will rough shape my set for the back radius. If you don’t have a pattern for this you can make one from an existing guitar.
The important thing is to mark you set so you have the proper book match . The waist reference you will pick up though the slots of the machine frame. You just want to be close. The final shape will be determined later during the build. At this point you will set the machine up for the bend.



     I place the pattern in the frame and pin it with the bolt. This will locate the pattern under the ram for the proper waist bend location. I then set the wood up for the sandwich and bending. I will damped my wood much like you would if you were cleaning a window. An even cover of water and that is all you need. Don’t soak as too much water will cause you some warping .
     With the wood damp you set up the bender   pattern   slat & nbsp; wood slat heating blanket .     You place the thermometer between the blanket and upper slat. If you place the probe on the wood it will mark it and it is difficult to remove. The waist cawl is brought on the sandwich to apply friendly friction so that you can align the wood into the machine and get the reference marks where they need to be. Again be careful as there is a lot of heat starting to build. I use spring clamps to keep the blanket in contact with the steel for good heat contact. 
   Once the heat gets around 220 and I hear sizzling I will set the lower bout. I will take about 20 seconds or so to walk the hold down into position. Once I am home I check the reference mark and continue or adjust and then continue. Remember you just need to be close at this point. Your side set should be a little bigger than needed to trim down to final shape.
     At this point I will do the upper bout. I will check the wood and dampen if needed. I again take 20 seconds or so to walk the hold down into position. I want the steel to press the wood. This is the secret to good bending.
      With both bouts bent I will do the waist and this will pull the side into the pattern for a good bend.

At this point I want the heat 250-300 F. Once the wood is on the pattern I will let the heat run to 350 or so and let it cool . I will want to have about 4-5 minutes of heat once I am on the pattern to set the bend If I can’t let it cool over night in the machine I will prop it in a mold to hold the shape. Note the weight on the mold and how the set is on a bench . The weight will force the wood into the mold. You can let this set until the other side is completed. This will help hold the shape without warping and spring back. The longer you keep it in the shape the better the results. Total time with the blanket will be about 10 minutes or so . . 
   With a cutaway the bending isn’t much different. I will do the sequence in this manner. I will do the lower bout , the waist and then the cutaway. You are doing 2 bends at once with the cutaway so you need to pull up on the end as you push the ram into the pattern. This is a little tricky you may want to do this with just the slats first so you get a feel for the action. Once the ram catches the pattern you can set the ram home.
    The key is heat and damp. I like to have a good steam going when bending the cutaway. Again remember safety. After you bend a few sets this will become easier and easier.





Wood and Temps
   Most woods do well at the 250-320 mark. I did find that mahogany and paduk may have more spring back than most woods.   Paduk will need more heat than any other woods I bent and I will do them at 350. Mahogany I will hold at 350 for 4-5 minutes to help hold the shape and set the bends.
Again thanks and I am here so if you need any help or have questions feel free to contact me .
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars
244 Forrest Dr
Hegins Pa 17938
   570-682-8046

Hesh, no worries about moisture loss through the kraft paper is you are sandwiching the side between plates. In fact, Taylor bends with kraft paper and NO added water. Check out there bending clip.

_________________
Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

[QUOTE=Hesh1956]



Bruce I will have to try kraft paper but I am not sure what it is. Is is the brown papaer that get wadded up and thrown in the boxes from Stew-Mac and LMI. Or I think that people used to use it to cover the outside of a parcel prior to mailing?

I hear only good things about kraft paper but I would be concerned about moisture loss through the paper where foil is water tight if in good shape and away from a seam.[/QUOTE]

Yes, it is just brown paper. I think mine is the heavy kind used to wrap parcels.
If you are worried about moisture loss then wrap foil over the paper. I bend with a fox bender with bulbs and do not use foil at all. When I finish bending the ends of the paper are still slightly damp. It sure beats sanding out the stains from the foil.

Hesh, don't worry about me machine of death, it only served once or twice if i recall usin' it for kerfed linings, i recently built another bending jig and bought a blanket from John, i just modernised me equipment!