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I'm contemplating building a side bender. I know the ideal is to use heating blankets, but that is outside of my budget right now. My question for you guys is this...I have a couple of halogen lamps (the torch style) that I was thinking of taking apart and usinf as a heat source for my bender. Is this a good idea or a bad one? The halogen bulbs are 500 Watt and get extremely hot. The lamps have dimmers built in. I was thinking that two of these could certainly get hot enough to bend some sides.

If I'm headed for disaster, let me know.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

My initial thought is that you will have too much heat in a specific area. Now, if there was a way to reflect the heat upward, that might work. Though with using them, I wouldn't ever be more than 10' away from the bender. These things can be very dangerous under the best of circumstances. There's nothing quite like thinking the timer kicked off and walking back into a shop filled with smoke.

I agree with Paul here. If you want to use bulbs use 3 150 or 200 watt clear bulbs, each on their own dimmer for better heat control at the waist and lower bout. But I have to tell you that you will be better off and much happier to spend the $125-$150 for a blanket and controller. It is one of those right tool for the job is cheaper in the long run things.

For bulbs you will need ceramic fixtures also so that they don't melt so really there is no cost savings trying bulbs first, as I did. I did bend my first set of sides with bulbs, and it included a cutaway and all went very well. I now have two blankets but I think that one works very well for most people.

Shane

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Canada

i would also avoid the halogen lights. they are just too hot and sensitive.

whilst the incandescent bulbs work, i do not ever regret switching over to a blanket. much faster and more effective, more direct, and more easily controlled.

one does not have to spend $125-$150; the blankes are available from omega or minco, two of the common makers, for <$70.00, and the "controller", a router speed control, from harbor freight, usually for ~$12 on sale. shipping adds ~$15. if needed an electrical extention cord from hf would be a very few $. time to assemble, perhaps 10 minutes.

if you do go with the bulbs, make sure you use the ceramic bulb holders. the heat can melt the plastic versions.

and it is good practice to incorporate a timed switch in your circuit, but regardless you should never leave the bender on when you are not there.

I built the side bender described on the J.
C. Jones website http://jcjonesguitars.netfirms.com/sidebend.htm
It uses three 150 watt bulbs with ceramic sockets.
I used 6061 T6 aluminum for the slats from an aircraft materials supplier. I did not use a timer because I felt that it might encourage me to lose sight of the very hot bender. I keep my eyes on the bender while in heat.
My total cost was approximately $50.00.
It works.

Ray

Joe,
I have three ceramic bulb sockets in my bender and I never use them because I switched to a blanket. Your are welcome to them.

Thanks Mike. I guess the concensus is to avoid the halogen bulbs.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

      My advice is this. Yes the lights are cheaper ,but when you consider the price of wood , one or 2 cracked sets will cost you more. Since I switched to blankets I have cut my breakage to about 1 - 2 sets a year or about 3% and without them I had a 10% breakage
john hall
blues creek guitars

I currently am using light bulbs. I think that I was using 150w but now Im
just using 100w. Havent had a problem yet.

nice monkey right above me.

Hi Joe,

I was just perusing a site on side bending for ukes. Here is that link:

http://www.ukuleles.com/BuildingHowTo/sidebend.html

I too am planning on making my own bender. I might even videotape the process for a YouTube instructional video.

Novice here but learning. This site is great and full of info!

Jim

 

[QUOTE=Ray Pepalis] I keep my eyes on the bender while in heat.[/QUOTE]
Ray, I'm surprised you can concentrate in that condition!*

Joe, good luck. If you use bulbs remember to line the inside of the form with foil!



*The above does not necessarily reflect the sense of humor of the OLF, its owners, subscribers or subsidiaries.

Hey Michael
Did you make your own blankets?

davido

no, not likely. omega did. all i did was connect a slavaged cord/plug set. an electical ignoramus like me can't manage much more than that.

Hi Joe -

For what it's worth, I built my own bender as well and used three 150w heat lamps with the ceramic bases.  I think that eventually I'll go with the blanket too, per everyone else's recommendations.  Not shown in the pic are the front and rear clamps, guess I took this pic in mid-assembly, sorry! And no, the dust collector hose is NOT hooked up to it.

The whole deal, including the press screw, only set me back about $40.00.  Best of luck!

Jon

I used a heat blanket for the first time Wednesday, here`s the results. I shall also be using a heat blanket in my home made Fox bender later this year for my first steel string build. I must say I`m really impressed at how easy it is to bend with a heat blanket. Now I`ve successfully used a heat blanket, don`t want to go back to a bending iron. Wish this blanket was a couple more inches longer though.









Here`s the side in the form.

I dig mandolins, that would be a fun project some day as well. Nice one there
Christian

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

bob, omega and minco, etc., make the blankets in a vast array of sizes. i'm sure there is one in the length you need just waiting for you to pny up the folding green to make it yours.

There are various configurations for blanket, slats, wood.  I tried putting the blanket on the bender, then the wood wrapped in foil then a metal slat.  This does not work good because the blanket drapes over the form while the wood is still stiff so there is not good contact with the blanket until the wood starts to bend.  I'll try a metal slat under the blanket so their is good contact with the wood.  What works for you?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

i've yet to build a mando, but for guitars i currently use a fox style bender with the sandwich being, from the inside out, slat, wood, slat, blanket, slat. in this sandwich i have used various wraps on the wood, foil, craft paper, craft paper and foil together. the paper alone seems to work just as well as any and is my current practice.