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I'm looking to add a side bender to my up and coming shop.
I see John at Blues Creek sells three models in different price ranges but I
can't really tell what the major differences are.
I'm assuming the differences are in the heat sources.
What is best and most foolproof to use?

Thanks

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Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

It all depends on the fool who is using it (this is a dig at myself)

Well, It really depends on what you want to do I think. Do you want to buy one or make one?

If you want to buy one, Than John is your man, just PM or email him, he will get back to you pronto.

If you want to make one there are several options. Personally I like the Doolin bender (but I've only tried it and a really crappy "chinesse" fox type I built).

Check out this link for a couple of good discussions on benders, the bender I built is the first link.

I did buy my slats and heat blanket from John and they are awsome. Love bending now with my new bender and the blankets. I bent some ebony bindings the other day (will add pictures tonight) and they came out perfect.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

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there are several styles of benders, and perhaps the most popular is usually referred to as a fox style bender.

it is adaptable to using light bulbs or heating blankets, or both, easily adapts to different body shapes, including cutaways, is easy to build if you so desire, or is available from vendors, including sponsor john hall of blues creek guitars.

no bender is foolproof, and there are plenty of tales here and elsewhere about the bender left on and forgotten and the consequences. any time you are working with wood and a heating element which can exceed the ignition point of same there is potential for disaster.

Thanks for the tips guys, and Rod, thanks for the link...lots of good
reading there.

I was talking to my instructor tonight. He uses the light bulb bender and
said he has bent over 300 sides and only ever broken two.
I've used the machine twice and have had no problems.
I think I may go this route and add the blanket later if I feel it a necessity.

_________________
Christopher C. Cordle
North Muskegon, MI

http://www.yardsaleunderwear.com
http://www.facebook.com/christopher.cordle

Chris, i wish i could post the link of the one made by Jc Jones, i built one like him, i use 3-200 watts bulbs and a heat blanket and also, i love the fact that i can use whatever shape/mold with it since the upper part is retractable or rather interchangeable so if you want to work on different projects at the same time, it would be very helpful!

Here's a pic with the SJ shape but i have bent dreadnaught size with a different mold



and another one with the dread's bending mold on



Hope it helps

SergeSerge Poirier39052.0022222222

Okay answer time. Light bulbs are okay but you will break more sets for sure. You can't control the heat like the blankets.
   The 3 units I have are
light bulb ( economy )
heat blanket standard
heat blanket complete for standard and cutaway.

   Most of us that build and bend our own will graduate to more expensive woods. You don't want to risk a $400 set to light bulbs . Break a set and you have nice expensive toothpicks.
    
    Check out my site in the tutorial section on using a bender to see one in action. That should explain the operation of it and some tips on using it
thanks and if you need any info let me know
yours
john hall
blues creek guitarstippie5339052.0029050926

I like to keep things simple, and especially on figured woods I like to get the feel of the wood bending in my hands. I guess it's a hangover from bending on a pipe. This is my bender, I just make a new one for each body shape. Blanket and slats from John Hall (110V so I have to transform). So for me no springs or big tower screws, I like to smooth mine down by hand or roll it round with the piece of broom handle, so I can feel the wood relax.



Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Unfortunately there is no machine that is foolproof. Bending wood is subject to the heat source the grain structure of the wood and the experience of the bender with a given species of wood. you are going to goof every now and then.

I agree that using heating blanket for your heat source. As far as who's bender to make or buy, If you plan on adding to your shapes of guitars you want to build I most certainly would go with a Fox style for the ease of adding new shape molds. I don't think there is any difference in the benders John sells other than heat source and if you buy the cutaway attachment or not. I highly recommend John's products.MichaelP39052.4187037037

If you don't have the time to build your own, buy one from John. His stuff is top quality at affordable prices.

If you have the time, it's much more economical to build your own using the LMI plans. I built mine and only used 3 light bulbs for some time. Since I bought John's blanket, my bends have been more controllable. Bulbs on the bottom, blanket on top.

"Works great...Less grilling"!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Whats a good material to make a practice run with? Just to get the feel?

anything cheap that is quarter sawn will be good Al.

Allied Lutherie sells a student quality side set of EIR for $17. Something that might be a good idea is to buy a set, get it to thickness (0.080-0.090") cut it up into binding pieces and bend away. This way if all goes well for you, you have some nice EIR binding and if not, you've gotten some good practice at thinning the sides, making binding pieces and bending.

Oh and Stew Mac has some practice sides for bending as well.

Also, if you talk with some of our sponsors (The Zootman Bob C, The Don or other's) they may have something too for you to practice with.Rod True39052.7058680556

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

[QUOTE=alambert] Whats a good material to make a practice run with? Just to get the feel?[/QUOTE] I speaking of practice bending. Mahogany or maple. Sterwmac sells practice wood packets 4" x 24" I believe. You get 2 maple, 2 mahogany