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On board ship the engineers have got some cans of Stainless Steel shim stock 150mm wide (6") by 1.25m (49") long and 0.3mm thick (12thou). They've told me that they wouldn't miss a few cans.

So would 12 thou stainless be suitable for bending sides?

I currently use some spring steel but would like some dedicated steel for each body size, and this is cheap!

Colin

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

Colin, I would think that .012" is just about right. I'd go for it. I'm looking for some now also as I have turned most of mine into cutaway bends.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Colin, I just bought some of the same shim stock at a local supplier. It is WAY cheaper than buying it from Stew Mac, et al.

I think the .012 stock is what I bought and it works great.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

    The .012 will do okay. You can expect about 50 to 75 bends till it gets wavy. This is probably a 301 stainless , that means it isn;t tempered and will take a bend.
   If you keep it stored in the tight coil that will help to relive the stress and may keep it straighter. I use a 302 tempered stainless that I sell with my benders. I think if you can get a few freebies it will work well for you
john hall

Guys, this is drifting a bit off the subject, but I've got some metal here I scavanged a while back and I'm not sure what it is. I =think= it might be a nickel alloy, actually. It has that rather characteristic yellowish color of nickel, and even though I've stored it under a covered carport for the past couple of years (here in Humid Houston), it does not show one bit of corrosion.

I have a roll of it -- about 12" wide by probably 8 ft. or so. Thickness is probably around 0.025" -- I'd have to mic it to be sure, though.

Ever since I began building guitars, I've wondered if this might work as slats for a side bender. I'd really like to find out what it is first, though. Got any ideas how to do this? Take it to a machine shop or welding shop maybe and ask them?

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live