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I received my thermal blanket from John Hall a few days back and today I got brave enough to fire the thing up and bend some IRW.

Man...what a different kettle of fish from slaving over a bending iron. After 5 minutes the wood was making the right noises and I cranked the waist caul down expecting to hear the heart breaking sound of cracking wood..but no the wood was as soft as putty. Down went the lower then upper bout cauls, blanket got switched off and I went for a cup of coffee. Total time taken to bend the side....about 10 minutes. Surely it cant be that easy.

Hesh...I sandwiched the wood, slats and blanket as per your tutorial and basically used your procedure with a few minutes added to heating times (upper slat wasnt sizzling after 3 minutes so gave it 5 mins). It all worked a treat.

Martin, that's just great! I too am tired of the hard labor on the pipe... It's all very nice and romantic but I think I'll take the plunge and get a blanket as well...

Did you make your bending forms yourself?

Good on ya, mate!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Martin, that is fantastic!

Its always great to get a new tool, AND, have it work just as planned!

I feel your joy!

I just built a hot pipe jig, but, there is no doubt, that down the road, at some point, I’ll be upgrading.

Did you build your own bender, and order the blanket separately?

Robert

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

I went from light bulbs to a blanket on my last build and I can't believe the difference.  I bent some camitillo and the stuff actually started to bend itself under the weight of the slats and blanket.  I still use the bulbs to help keep the heat even.  I am so glad I spent the money on it. I have a hot pipe for bending small stuff like curves in fingerboard extension bindings.

Bending forms and bending forms are all self made. I started with a fox style jig made using plans in Jim Williams' book but couldnt get the screw press to work properly and cut same off. The waist caul now runs on two threaded rods with wing nuts to apply pressure. A bit fiddly to keep straight but it works.

Hey Martin,

I've been watching your posts on side bending with a blanket with much interest. Where do you buy these in OZ, or is it an import? Can you use a few different mould designs with the blanket? I've seen one style where the mould was cut from some laminated peices of particle board in the side shape. The side placed in the mould and then clamped with some bar clamps. Could you do something simple like that? Also do you think the blanket would be long enough to accomidate the extra length of a weiss side?

Thanks for your attention

Cheers

Alan

Alan, importing one from John Hall (Blues Creek Guitars) will be more or less the cheapest way to get one in Australia, but you'll either need to get a 230/240V version (with a European plug) or get a 110-240V transformer.

I can imagine using bar clamps like that to bend the sides might be a bit fidgity, especially considering you're racing against time to get everything into shape before the wood dries out, also monitoring the temperature the whole time. I love the simplicity of the Fox machine in that it all comes together so neatly and is very easy to adjust. Your method sounds like it might be worth a try once; I certainly wouldn't build or buy a Fox machine for just a single guitar.

The standard blanket is 36", which is able to do a Weissenborn (the straight neck section won't be in contact with the blanket), but I personally use a 40" which gives full coverage of all the wood.

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Richard
http://www.guitarmaker.com

[QUOTE=ozziebluesman]

Hey Martin,

I've been watching your posts on side bending with a blanket with much interest. Where do you buy these in OZ, or is it an import? Can you use a few different mould designs with the blanket? I've seen one style where the mould was cut from some laminated peices of particle board in the side shape. The side placed in the mould and then clamped with some bar clamps. Could you do something simple like that? Also do you think the blanket would be long enough to accomodate the extra length of a weiss side?

Thanks for your attention

Cheers

Alan

[/QUOTE]

Al,

1. The blanket is an import from John Hall at Blues Creek Guitars. Im running it off a 1500 watt stepdown transformer which cost me $Aus385 from Tortec (http://tortech.com.au/index.php?productID=125)
2. The moulds are made seperately from the bending jig so can be any shape you want. I make mine from 19mm MDF with aluminium spacer bars epoxied in.
3. for clamping the side use a wind down caul for the waist and cauls attached to springs for the upper and lower bouts.
4. Bending sides for a Weissy. I recall seeing someone doing a Weissy on a Fox Jig. Do an OLF search and Im sure youll find something

Lookin' good here Martin. That looks to be a 'Monty' of a transformer , and at $385 plus the cost of the blanket and shipping , it's sounding expensive .
Anyone know if there is a cheaper way around this for us Aussies .?
Richo mentioned a 240 volt version with a Euro. plug. Where are those available. ?

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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LMI have a 240 volt version Craig. We just had to change the plug on ours.

Cheers

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

I have them in the 220Vac set up. The blanket is the way to go. Also I use a 5 watt per inch set up not 2 1/2. You will get better heat control when you are heating a thermal mass.
john hall

I made the switch a few months ago from the pipe to one of John's blankets. I doubt I will ever use the pipe again! 

I will also give this unsolicited praise for John:

From the beginning of negotiations to the day my form and blanket arrived (with a few other things thrown in for good measure), John's help with my selection and his communications with me were excellent. I will do business with him again and have no problems at all with reccomending him and his products to anyone. I can promise you that you won't be dissappointed in anything you purchase from Blues Creek!

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Reguards,

Ken H

[QUOTE=bob_connor] LMI have a 240 volt version Craig. We just had to change the plug on ours.

Cheers[/QUOTE]

I went for the 120 volt blanket because there dont seem to be alot of suppliers with 240 volt temp controllers/timers. I guess I could have found an appropriate router speed controller but couldnt be bothered. I have a couple of tools that also run off 120 volt so decided to get the transformer.

You're right about the lack of speed controllers Martin.

The only one I could find was a kit from Dick Smith.

I had originally ordered one from Timbecon but their suppliers in the States couldn't deliver.

The kit one works fine though.

Cheers

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

John's products are all superior together with superior service and John is a superior person

Appreciate the help everyone, on where, and what type of blanket is best.
John Hall's 220 V. ones @ 5 watts per inch seem to be the way to go . Thanks John , I'll be in touch

Regards all, Craig

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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