Official Luthiers Forum!

Well what ya know , gee another bending machine . This isn't new technology but has been around a while. Infact some of the earlier machines used this same technology.
    The unit is descreet and bends to the one mold , and Martin has some of these but don't use them anymore. They work and if you want to use them go for it. I love to see new or old stuff.
   Please don't think it will offend me as information not shared is a secret. Knowlege shared is education.
    Thanks for all the kind thoughts and praise. As a luthier I use this stuff to.
John Hall
PS have fun and keep the strings on the outside of the box.

[QUOTE=DennisLeahy]It's nothing secret, or taboo, and John Hall is a cool guy.
Dennis[/QUOTE]
See, I told you so!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Who said yesterday that when you start quoting yerself that you must have a prob?

Just rubbin' ya Dennis!

Serge

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Who said yesterday that when you start quoting yerself that you must have a prob?

Just rubbin' ya Dennis!

Serge[/QUOTE]
Ouch!

"Hi, my name is Dennis, and I'm a woodaholic..."

(Oh wait, that's a different problem!)

Yes Serge, it's true, it's narcissism, and me, myself, and I are all guilty as charged!

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Sorry Dennis, i could not resist any longer!

Serge

Tom - I never felt like you would be offended or anything like that - it was the suggestion of others that implied that.
I `never remotely thought you would be upset,
my {over}reaction was to the insinuation that perhaps I should not discuss my new system open and freely.
Cheers
Charlie

Well I am glad it seems safe to come out! I am indeed a member here, but have not been spending much time on the forum. I got wind of this thread and I feel I need to clear a few things up.

I am NOT trying to 'hawk my wares'. I do respect the sponsor issue....although I have to say it is not readily apparent what sponsorship entails. I suspect a substantial financial commitment....and while I do offer heat blanket systems for sale, I certainly don't make enough from them to warrant such 'advertising expense'. My mass mailing catalog is not out quite yet.

That said, a few points of clarification.....

The system is not a bending machine. It is simply a high tech method of controlling a silicon heat blanket. It does NOT heat separate sections of the blanket to different temps. It DOES heat the side quickly, uniformly, and to an accurate temperature that is easily varied in small increments. Combined with the methods I have worked out, I feel it does a superb job of bending sides .....(IMHO) better than pipe, light bulbs or even rheostat controlled blankets.

It is applicable to virtually any form system you like...Fox type benders, John Hall's, simple solid male/female forms like the pics posted above, even universal workboards.BTW....the pics are old photos I posted elsewhere. If anyone has questions on the solid forms, I would be happy to help.

I have not seen the article in Guitarmaker. It might well be very similar to what I have developed. Maybe I should check with my patent lawyer... I developed this system several years ago.....originally for myself....but was urged to offer it to other luthiers. It has been well received and proven to be a fine tool.

I appreciate Charlie being excited about his decision to purchase the system. I think he was just trying to share his excitement and not 'advertise' for me. I have to say, the commitment to sponsor should afford someone 'top billing' and hopefully gain support from members. But it is a slippery slope to also imply non sponsors should be shut out or not even spoken of. Brock's post was reassuring that this was not the sentiment of the forum's 'powers that be'. An atmosphere of open discussion can only benefit a forum.

I hope no one has been seriously put out by Charlie wanting to tell members about the system he ordered. Word of mouth is what this forum is all about.......sharing the good and the bad that you run into along your luthier path so everyone can learn.

Now that is off my chest..... back to lurk mode.....
Besides, I have to spray another coat of finish!
Tommandomaniac38850.9098263889

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"By the hand of one man".......
Doc's Stringed Instruments, Doc's Mandolins
http://www.docsmandolins.com

[QUOTE=mandomaniac] I am NOT trying to 'hawk my wares'. [/QUOTE]

I hope that I didn't imply that you were. We have had a few problems with this in the past from other folks -- sorry if that felt misdirected.

I appreciate the post Tom and certainly I would invite you or anyone else who has a new idea or technology to contribute to the forum. We are all here to learn.

I don't know if the article in GM is the same as what you are offering or not, but it is a system for precisely controlling the temperature of a heat blanket. You should check it out.

Brock Poling38850.9483101852

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Hello Brock,
I certainly appreciate your note. I do have to say, I tried to find info on sponsorship out of curiosity when the proverbial hit the fan. I was unable to find exact requirements anywhere. You might make this more readily available...unless I simply could not navigate to it well. I doubt that I would ever be in a position to go that route, but others might be interested.
Sponsorship certainly has its benefits....for the forum 'managers' as well as the sponsors. I support several of the sponsors here. But not to the exclusion of any other supplier. Hey... some sponsors have supported me!!! And they're HAPPY they did!

In any case, I do feel better about your position on this matter. You should be aware that many people that have much to offer in goods/services and expertise have been "RUN OFF" by forums catering to a sponsor program . One of your sponsors, John Hall, posted a long thread here some time back regarding his experience with MIMF. About two years ago, I, too, was "banned for life" by the MIMF Gestapo woman, for having the audacity to simply answer a question on their forum about heat blanket bending. I directed the member to simply check out information I had posted on another forum. Not exactly direct commercial advertising!!
I am aware of several incidences HERE, involving folks that just made their presence as a potential supplier known to the forum membership, that verged on this sad approach.....
I strongly feel this should be avoided if the free exchange of information the magic internet offers is to truly benefit this forum's members.

In any case, thanks again for stating clearly your position....hopefully others will adopt the same attitude. It will make this place one that welcomes rather than excludes.
Sincerely,
Tom

_________________
"By the hand of one man".......
Doc's Stringed Instruments, Doc's Mandolins
http://www.docsmandolins.com