Official Luthiers Forum!

My Lmii bending blanket is on its way out. It’s served pretty well having bent 40+ pairs of instrument sides successfully and numerous sides unsuccessfully. So it goes...

I know that I can get another blanket from the aforementioned site, and John Hall also has an offering, then there’s eBay.

What blanket are you guys and gals using and liking?

TIA, M

I just bought a new one directly from the Keenovo store. Should be receiving it in the next week or so.
Hopefully it works as well as the Hi-heat that finally died. I had bought a spare a while back, supposedly 1200w, but I could never get it to reach 200f. It was a cheap chinese unit with a built in analog controller.
Will report on the function of the Keenovo once it has been tested. I have 2 sides waiting for bending.
You can also buy from Watlow.

B

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My memory is so good, sometimes I remember things that never happened.

Keenovo like Brian's, 6 x 36 1200 watt, 5.55 watt/sq inch, works well, heats real fast!
Made my own PID controller.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I've been happy with the Keenovo though I'm not a heavy user - perhaps half a dozen boxes with it so far. I use their temperature controller.

Dave

I bought mine from McMaster Carr. I’ve only bent about 10 sets so far FWIW.

I know Omega instrumentation has sold them for a reasonable price too, assuming they have it in stock.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

The blanket is repairable with high temperature copper-filled silicone RTV. We have one blanket which has bend a few hundred sides and binding sets, but started shorting to the slats. Some RTV repair took care of the issue and we now proactively address thinning spots or bubbles with immediate spot repairs. If not already using a top slat to protect the blanket from abrasion, it is work using one to extend life.

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For the times they are a changin'

- Bob Dylan

I'm not a heavy user but have been happy with my Omega blanket. I can check the part number for you if that would be helpful.

That would be helpful.

Thanks

My bending blanket

Omega SRMU020636-0
120V, 4.5AMP, 6in x 36in, 540 watts

My bridge removal blanket (I wish I had bought the 1x6, rather than the 1x5, but it was not in stock at the time)
Omega SRMU050105
120V, 0.21AMP, 1in x 5in, 25 watts

Where did you get it from?


Pierre

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Pierre Castonguay

There are some threads in the archives re: durability of various brands of silicone bending blankets. Our oldest is a ProTherm...introduced to service in early 2006. Our most recent is also a ProTherm, and just over three years old. Other than the wear-and-tear repairs made as noted above (all from early use without a third slat), the blanket has been trouble free. Mr. John Hall (Blues Creek) carries this brand, and with that sort of service life, at a very reasonable price (about $165). The second blanket was ordered due to the need to bend both guitar sides at the same time for student work, rather than any fault with the first, which has bent a few hundred sides and binding sets.

http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/shop/i ... cts_id=215

We use the 6" x 36" 1080 watt blanket, but always with a top protective slat to avoid the sort of wear that occurs with caul use.

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For the times they are a changin'

- Bob Dylan

I am a hobby user but have about 25 sets done on an Omega srmu050636 blanket and have had no trouble at all (I do use aluminum flashing on top of the blanket for protection). You will have to add your own plug to the blanket leads. Right now they are not in stock at Omega but will ship in 8 weeks and cost $85 plus shipping.

Site is Omega.com and the blanket I reference is the 5 watt per square inch while the one previously mentioned is 2.5 watt

allow me to make a few points here
NO ALL BLANKETS ARE THE SAME.

If a blanket is failing after 40 sets , that is not a sign of good blanket. I have tried many different blankets. What makes one better than another is
1 watts per sq in
lower wattages are cheaper but your thermal load pulls heat out very fast and caused cracking, also too high can cause scorching.
2 material used
here again some are using lower grade material to equate a lower price. that will dictate thermal rage
3 element material. The wire used can be big part of longevity.

I have blankets that have gone over 2000 cycles and still work.

When I experimented with these , I used protherm in a production machine where I worked and that is how I found them.. They made them
to my specs.

I had tried watlow omega keenevo and found that what we are doing is not often what these are designed for. Many are used in heating a 55 cal drum and notbeing flexed.
Also do not use a variable resistor to control the heat on the blanket . I have learned that causes them to burn out . VSI controllers are much
better . I have one blanket in constant use for 15 year that finally wore out this year and it was the cord that failed, a bare wire shorted on my slat.

if you make 2 guitars a year you need is different than a person that uses this on a daily basis. Also ask how long of a warranty is included .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Thanks for the info everyone!

Having a perspective on longevity is very helpful. I’ve alway used the controller that I purchased from lmii with my blanket. I had, had trouble with the thermocouples making good contact with the blanket, likely causing the early demise of my $182 lmii blanket. I have since figured out the thermocouple contact problem. Always learning...

Looks like I’ll be giving John’s offering a go.

Thanks again, M

I've got one from LMI and also one from Bluess Creek. They both work great and I haven't used either one enough to wear out. The LMI one is more supple which I like. It is .055, the blues Creek one is .075.

Pat

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Pat

Thanks Pat,

I was gonna ping John and ask that very question. Saved we the trip!

PS You gonna be a the SLuG auction next week?

Cheers, M

I'm definitely going to try! How about you? I've got a few things to sell, but it seems like I always come home with more than when I went with LOL

I've got a new apprentice that's four months old, so a little hard to get out.

Pat

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Pat

I’m planning to be there. I haven’t been to a meeting in 6 months I’m guessing. Moving takes its toll.

Congratulations on the new grub! I’m a grandfather as of 7 months ago.

Hope you can make it!

Back to our regularly scheduled programming...

John Hall @ 40+ and still working fine.

I need to find a proxy to send the SLuG auction...

What are you after? You could go big time and call in your bid..