Official Luthiers Forum!

Being fairly new to all this I've yet to do any bending.
So, I know I am going to soon need a decent bender & blanket, preferably the Fox type. I am just about ready to get one John Hall's, when I came across this new one that Allied will be offering up. I was wondering what everyones thoughts on it were, besides the most obvious...more $$?
http://www.alliedlutherie.com/sidebender.htm

Hi Rich

Unless you are planning a serious amount of bending I would say it is overkill. I have one of Johns and it is very well built. I can see the new Allied one in a scenario where bending is being carried out more or less daily, but in a one man shop probably not worth the extra $$$.

I agree with Russell. Unless you are going professional, you don't really need that. John Hall's are just as good and will get the job done. You could always just make one. Robbie O'brien's dvd on steel string guitar building shows you have to make a simple side bending machine. It took me about 3 hours to build and about $40 in materials. Good luck!
Tracy

Rich, I have nothing against Allied but like Russ, i think you want to go with John Hall's bender, it'll be well made and will cost less and John will always be there in case you need help, he really is a nice guy!

Serge

Yep,I'll agree with the others...overkill. Sure is nice looking but John Halls bender will do the job just as well or make your own.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I have one made from the LMI plans out of baltic birch ply - its has bent about 150 sides so far, and has nothing wrong with it at all - good for a couple thousand more at least. I visited a luthier on Hornby island in BC a few years back, and his was made from scrap roofing ply by the looks of it, about to fall apart - mine is museum quality next to his, and his worked fine. That aluminum one looks cool, but its way overkill. The simplicity of most jigs is what makes them work the best - they dont need ot look pretty at all, functionality is key here.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

You might think about going with the blanket and temp control from John Hall (his stuff is top notch), and make your form, using a jigsaw or bandsaw.

I modelled mine off of Bill Cumpiano's shown here.

Good luck and have fun!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Agree with everyone...it sure looks built to last thats for sure. I have John Halls and for th eamount of building I do, it should last my lifetime

Rich, here's mine that i built from Jc Jones and other's models, it uses 3-200 watts bulbs, i purchased the blanket and controls from John Hall, works like a charm.



Make sure to have the spring steel slats also!

Serge

Check out LMI too. They are now selling one that Kent Everett developed and you can get it with or without a blanket. Everett side bender

Johns Benders are great!!!!

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Buy John Hall's bender, and use the extra $$ to outfit the entire rest of your chisel, file, and sandpaper arsenal!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Either bender should work fine for you. But like they say, beauty is in the eyes of the bender... or is it beholder? The question is are you going to use it in a production setting where lots of people will get their grubby hands on it. (just kidding about the grubby hands... or am I?) Other than that it's your call. Maybe you are just a top of the line kind of person, like my wife? (She gets the Mercedes, I drive the pick-up). If you are that kind of person then go for the Allied. If getting the job done in grand sytle is good enough then JH is your man. Joe Beaver38866.825

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

[QUOTE=Joe Beaver] Or maybe you are just a top of the line kind of person, like my wife? (She gets the Mercedes, I drive the pick-up. [/QUOTE]

Nope, same boat (or car), as you Joe...I drive a PU, or an old Pathfinder anyway.

The metal bender looks to be very well constructed, but like you all say; "overkill" & more costly! I am also not into the heavy production mindset either, so the Blues Creek model would be more than adequate for me. Plus, I've been dealing w/ John all along. He's been very forthcoming...about me picking his brain for info. I certainly do appreciate everyone's feedback though, as I have a tendency to be consumed beyond the 'norm' at times. ~ Thanks ~

I build my own benders, I make a dedicated one for each body shape, apart from the hook eyes most parts come from the scrap bin. If you are going to make your own body shapes you'll need to build, or have specially made, your own form anyway. The whole thing can be made in a couple of hours.

I do use one of John's blankets/controllers and his spring steel slats.






Colin

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

Colin...Thanks for the great Pics. Looks like you did a real nice job on making them. Not too shabby considering the wood came from your scrap bin. I think I can take on project like that w/o to much grief...& save a little $$ as well.

Me & my dad built ours from a set of plans he found on ebay for under a $100.00
we added a on/off switch & 3 seperate dimmer switches , to control each bulb temp better... nice
everything else is by the plans really











I think it turned out kinda rad, can`t beat the price awayway ....matt ennis

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Colin very nice job on your benders!

Question: For the upper and lower bouts do you start the bend by hand (with gloves of course) before engaging the hold downs? If so this appeals to me greatly in as much as with the Fox style bender I lost the feel of the wood bending that I had on the pipe.

You bender seems like the best of both worlds AND it is so easy to construct that it encourages experimentation with different body shapes.
[/QUOTE]

Hesh, yes I start with the waist taking it to within 1/2" or so then work with gloved hands on lower bout then upper bout, smooth down using the cauls then bolt down lightly before finishing off the waist. Then tighten up the upper and lower cauls.

I cut the sides using the router table and a hardboard template then I use threaded inserts in the sides to connect them together, this ensures perfect alighnment (assuming they are drilled together). They really are simple and effective.

ColinColin S38869.2644328704

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

My bender was made from scrap plywood and in my shop based on pictures I found here and at MIMF. Orriginally it used lights but I now use a blanket. The bender cost me about $1.87 which included about six forms. Some of the forms are plywood, some MDF, I used hockey stick handles as spreader. Bent over 100 sides using this and still going strong.

If you don't want to make your own then John Hall is the way to go and even if you do he has a great deal on blankets and controllers.
Here is the bender I use, built by a friend who is a welder.

John How38869.3775694444

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

Mattrix,

Are you getting enough heat to top of the form? It appears that there is alot of distance between the bulb and the top of the unit. I built one that looks similar, use 3 - 200W bulbs and mine are alot closer and I have many problems in getting my heat up to the 300+ degree point. I drilled a hole in one end of the bender box and built a mount to hold my heat gun. I insert it into the unit on low and now can get to the higher temps. Just curious about the height.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

PS. I plan to order the blanket and one of John Halls when I save up enough pennies, bulbs for me have been a hassle with lots of problems getting enough concentrated heat on all of the upper bouts.

Hi Mike , to be honest with you we haven`t even used this bender as of yet. it hasen`t been completed to long .. but now that you brought the height issue up , i`m not sure if we will be recieving enuogh heat. I mean we are using 3 200 watt bulbs in a totally covered foil form. i dont know if this will help but we are hoping to test the new bender out this weekend. I will let you know how it goes , thanks for the height idea.