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I am in the process of setting up for my first guitar. I am planning to build a small jumbo and I'm curious if someone has plans or body dimensions I could use to build my side bending jig? Not for the jig itself but just the instrument dimensions. I'm using 3/4" particle board doubled up for sides joined by 3/8" all thread, covering everything in 16 gauge steel, then foil, and running 2 tunsgram 250 watt heat lamps through a dimmer for control. Also, I had a recommendation to use the old porcelain keyless lamps because the plastic would melt Inside because of the heat, but when investigating this it seems the porcelain is rated at 250 watts and the plastic is rated for 600 watts. (Rating came from pass and seymour and only applies to there keyless lampholders, it was recommended that the updated ones would be a better choice) Any insight on this would be helpful. Inside the unit will be a thermometer. Does anyone have a good recommendation on what a good temperature to bend should be? I don't want to crack or burn a bunch of side because of extreme temperatures. Because this is my first, I'm really on a budget because of tooling up. So if anyone has suggestions on must have tools that would be great. So far I have a router and table, table saw, bench drill press, palm sander, hand planes, scroll saw, nice chisels, c-clamps, cam clamps, bar clamps, parrot vise. I don't have fretting tools, haven't chose a spokeshave yet, and I'm suring I'm missing Quite a bit more. I do have a ton of ambition and have been excited about this project for 2 years, in which time I've collected what I have now. I've read William Cumpiano's guitarmaking book about 500 times or so, along with a few others. I'm in the process of buying the 10 dvd set from John Mayes and look forward to wearing those out. All comments are welcome and appreciated. Thanks...In the meantime, I'll keep driving my wife crazy. JeremyIplaytheoldies38733.854837963

Wow... lots of questions....

1) The OLF sells an SJ plan. I would get that if I were you. A good set of plans to refer to is essential.

2) Temperature to bend at? I guess it depends on the wood, but I would say somewhere in the 290 - 300 degree mark seems to work well... but there are variations in this. Knowing what kind of wood you are going to be working with (and the final thickness) certainly will help pinpoint this for you. (also... I would think long and hard about getting a heat blanket. It certainly takes a lot of the guess work out of bending.)

In addition to John's training videos, I would suggest that you grab a copy of Frank Finocchio's videos. (Borrow them if you don't want to purchase them). They are a very good step-by-step-by-step-by-step-by-step approach to building your first guitar. There is very little left to the imagination with his videos. John's are well worth the money, as well as Robbie O'Brian's, but I still think Frank's are a great reference for your first guitar.Brock Poling38733.8623032407

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

Thanks for responding.
The OLF plans are currently not in stock and I was hoping to get Started ASAP, but If I don't end up finding any elsewhere I will wait for those. Where should I buy Frank's videos? I don't know any luthiers personally so borrowing is out of the question. I planned on using a heat blanket with the jig as well, any good suggetsions on which one to get?

It ain't easy when starting out in lutherie, especially for wives turning into widows. I sure understand what you've just gone through Jeremy, my wife has been more than a great angel by my side ever since i was bitten in march of last year, she kind of understands the passion that drives me crazy every single minute of the day! I just hope for you that your wife is just has happy for you as mine is for me!

Now, for tools, i'll let the others tell you more specifically what you need but can already tell you that a drum sander might be one of your best investment unless your able to build one which would save you a lot of money

Good luck in your projects and remember that we're a bunch of big brothers for encouragement!

And most importantly,.....Send pictures!

   I bend alot of wood. Most woods will bend well at 275 to 325 . Some woods have more spring back than others.
      How much water is another issue. Too much and you can warp. too little and you can scorch if you go too slow.
   I am finished bending in about 5-7 minutes with a heating blanket. You want the heat to be about 275 and the wood damp when you bend. Take about 20 seconds to bend the bouts and set the waist and you will do fine.
   once you are on the pattern you can take the heat to 375 and pull the plug. Let it cool in the machine before pulling it out.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars

Is it possible to bend sides that are a little warped before the bend and still turn out nice results? I moved from California to Utah, and the climate changed warped some of the tonewoods I had collected, I have a set a high grade quilted maple back and sides, the back is fine but there is a slight twist in the sides. Are they done for? or could some time in the bender straighten things back out?

[QUOTE=Iplaytheoldies] So far I have a router and table, table saw, bench drill press, palm sander, hand planes, scroll saw, nice chisels, c-clamps, cam clamps, bar clamps, parrot vise. [/QUOTE]

Jeremy, Welcome to the OLF.

From you list, I think the only thing you may want to add is a rasp instead of a spoke shave. There was a post on spoke shaves (look here) a while ago and Paul Woolson gave a great suggestion if you don't have a tool for neck carving. The Japanese Saw Rasp.

Great to have you. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and post pics of you progress/issues/triumps. There is an enormous amout of wisdom and knowledge here to glean from.

Now, get to it.

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Hi Jeremy,

I agree with Brock that a good, complete (not that any video or book can be TRULY complete) step-by-step guitar building video, such as Frank Finocchio's, will likely be extremely helpful. Frank's are available from Stewart MacDonald (stewmac.com). Build along with that, and as you run into questions, post them here. You've probably already realized that there are many different ways to do any part of the building process. If you find yourself wondering about different options or different tools for specific steps as you go along, post questions about those things as you come to them. I think you'll find you'll get more helpful answers to specific questions like that along the way. Then you can buy the tools you need as you go. In my mind, it makes sense to stop often and ponder things anyway on your first build. There's always more to read and study (books about wood, woodworking, acoustics, tool use and maintenance, wood finishing, etc) that can be very helpful to your learning process, so there's plenty to do while you're waiting for a new tool order to arrive. Don't be in a hurry.

Those are my humble suggestions. Good luck!

Todd

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Hi Jeremy.

You mentioned quilted maple in one of your posts. I would recommend that you NOT use that for your first. Quilted maple is flat sawn and has a tendency to warp, twist and do all kinds of crazy things. You can build a nice guitar with it, but it can be frustrating.

I would get something quartersawn and reasonably inexpensive for your first... Mahogany, East Indian Rosewood, Pau Ferro, Myrtle... all of those would make a fine first instrument.

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

Thanks for all the help. Its hard to remain patient...I've been doing it for quite some time but every time I get a new tool, idea, or see someone else making progress, I'm like a kid at christmas. I've got the bug. By the way, I mentioned the quilted maple because it was the wood that warped, I have 1 set indian rosewood sides, 1 of koa, 1 of mahogany, and 1 cocobolo. Also have 3 sitkas, 3 red cedar, and 1 engelmann tops. I have a couple of neck blanks as well. Sounds like alot when I haven't even started my first, but I've been picking stuff up for quite some time.

[QUOTE=Iplaytheoldies] Thanks for responding.
The OLF plans are currently not in stock and I was hoping to get Started ASAP, but If I don't end up finding any elsewhere I will wait for those. Where should I buy Frank's videos? I don't know any luthiers personally so borrowing is out of the question. I planned on using a heat blanket with the jig as well, any good suggetsions on which one to get?[/QUOTE]

I believe that Lance has ordered plan prints and they should be in very quick. you might PM Lance to check the status

Just a note to keep in the back of your head. Not everyone's dimensions on any specific body style will be the same. If you buy your mold and bending form from John Hall it will match the OLF SJ If bought elsewhere, it is likly not to be a match. This is not saying any ones dimensions are wrong. The body shape is pretty much a generic shape and will varry from builder to builder.