Official Luthiers Forum!

I am thinking of going to solid moulds for side bending but will still use them in my fox bender, since I have it built already! So I am wondering how many of you that use solid moulds use two blankets (one on top one on the bottom) for bending. If so, what temp do you run them and do you use seperate controls for each blanket or just gang them to one router speed control device. Any advise would be most welcome!

Thanks

Shane

_________________
Canada

Hey Shane, looks like you're gonna bend sides soon! Keep us posted!

Serge

Shane, I just received my blanket from John Hall last week.

Years ago John Mayes wrote this for the 13th fret: 13thfret.com/articles/
sidebending.html

My blanket from John came with a temp. control and a thermometer. I
did some testing the night it came and found that if I put the dial right
between the green and red, it maxed at 303 degrees and got to 240 in
about 2 1/2 minutes.

In that article, John uses 2 blankets, but I just used 1. I haven't taken the
side out yet, but I'll report back to let you know about spring back.

to control two heating blankets from one router speed controler you would have to opt for the 2.5 watt/sq. in. version. two 5 watt/sq blankets could overload the speed controler.

one blanket is sufficient. two requires that your forms be made to account for the extra thickness between the form and the wood, but will heat the wood that much faster, and burn it, and unfortunately, other things as well, that much quicker if you are inattentive.

Shane, I don't use a solid form but I do use 2 blankets. I was down at John Mayes shop one day and he showed me his 2 blanket setup and I tried it out for myself. I haven't broken a side yet doing this and it seems like I have better luck "setting" the bend using 2 blankets.

I also use John Hall's method of wet craft paper on both sides of the wood. I've bent some pretty tough sides using both of these methods together.

Now, hurry up and start building something, we wanna see some pics.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I really don't think it matters if you use one or two, as long as the wood gets to temperature. I've always been happy with one, I've only bent about 60 sides but never had a break. Used to use foil but now use brown craft paper. I believe it's getting a feel for the wood that matters most, that's why I don't use a bender with mechanical aids I like to bend the wood round the form by (gloved) hand and just hold it with the cauls.

Colin

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

Shane, I use a solid form, and one blanket under the side. After spritzing
the side I wrap it in foil and stack it slat-blanket-side-slat. I set the
temp. control to about 75%. When I can here the water sizzle, I crank
down the waist, then each end. So far it's been foolproof!   Only once
have I had to cycle it twice (to elliminate springback), and that was with
Granidillo.

for me, the most important thing with Fox style benders is the spring
support under the waist.

long

_________________
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

By the way, Shane... I installed a burl rosette today in the Lutz top you
sent me recently.    It is Beeee-utiful!!

longBob Long39097.7972337963

_________________
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

Thanks for the comebacks! I have one blanket now so I think I will try Bob's method and go from there. I just really like the idea or full support over the entire side when shaping.

Bob, I will maintain all of the Fox bender atributes...just different moulds. Let's see that rosette!

Thanks again all!

Shane

_________________
Canada

two are not needed, but, in my experience, they are faster, more reliable,
and seem to set the bend much better. I've done dozens with one blanket
and around 500 with two blankets, and two blankets are superior imo.

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Solid form covered with heat resistant duct tape and one blanket.can`t wait to get that Lutz top your sending.
                   James W B

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Shane, The server won't let me upload the image of the rosette. I guess
people were having trouble earlier today. I'll try again maybe tomorrow.

I'm not much of a propellerhead, but I have posted images here before,
so I hope it's not just me.

longBob Long39097.8741898148

_________________
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

The amount of blankets isn't as important as the wattage of the blankets. 4 and 5 watters will have the power to overcome the thermal shock
   lighter wattages will have a temp drop and it takes longer for them to come back to heat.
   The important thing is the recoup time for heating
john

Shane, as you know, i use one blanket and 3 bulbs, some people even bend with just the bulbs so the 2 combined methods will give you more than enough heat IMHO.

Thanks again everyone!

Serge, I am going to solid forms so the bulbs won't work. I have done my first, including the cutaway, with just bulbs and it worked well but I really want to move to solid forms as I think that they will give a more defined bend (I had a small issue with the cutaway on the first that required a rebend, second time was fine).
Shane

_________________
Canada

I use one blanket from John, it works very quickly and is easy to control--no problems.