First try at bending

Show us your DIY shop made Side Bender and the procedure for its use
John J
Posts: 359
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:30 pm
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

First try at bending

Post by John J » Sat May 16, 2015 10:07 pm

While waiting for my second kit from Ken I've been making tools for down the road. I just finished my pipe bender based off Ken's design. Got the temp up to about 275 and tried bending a practice side. What a rush. I can bend wood.
Attachments
Aluminum pipe.
Aluminum pipe.
image.jpg (104.95 KiB) Viewed 1993 times
Base.
Base.
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Pipe mounted with heat tape applied.
Pipe mounted with heat tape applied.
image.jpg (114.36 KiB) Viewed 1993 times
JJ
Learning every day. And having fun doing it.

John J
Posts: 359
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:30 pm
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Re: First try at bending

Post by John J » Sat May 16, 2015 10:09 pm

More pictures.
Attachments
Mounted with timer and dimmer.
Mounted with timer and dimmer.
image.jpg (149.52 KiB) Viewed 1992 times
Heat blanket.
Heat blanket.
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Copper sleeve installed over blanket.
Copper sleeve installed over blanket.
image.jpg (114.78 KiB) Viewed 1992 times
JJ
Learning every day. And having fun doing it.

John J
Posts: 359
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:30 pm
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Re: First try at bending

Post by John J » Sat May 16, 2015 10:11 pm

More pictures.
Attachments
Getting heated up.
Getting heated up.
image.jpg (152.59 KiB) Viewed 1992 times
Bending success! Practice mahogany thinned to .078.
Bending success! Practice mahogany thinned to .078.
image.jpg (131.33 KiB) Viewed 1992 times
JJ
Learning every day. And having fun doing it.

Kevin in California
Posts: 2799
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:19 pm

Re: First try at bending

Post by Kevin in California » Mon May 18, 2015 9:40 am

wow that is one fancy fine bending pipe. Good job. I did my first 4 guitars on a pipe, I like doing it but in the long run I wanted a better (okay, maybe easier way too) fit of the sides to my building mold. Of course you can still match it perfectly bending by hand too. :)

John J
Posts: 359
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:30 pm
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Re: First try at bending

Post by John J » Mon May 18, 2015 6:15 pm

I'm building a bender as well. I'll post some pics soon.
JJ
Learning every day. And having fun doing it.

John J
Posts: 359
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:30 pm
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Re: First try at bending

Post by John J » Mon May 25, 2015 12:13 pm

I finished my side bender and a couple of forms. Gave it a try yesterday with a practice side of mahogany. I pre bent the waist, misted the wood, wrapped in parchment paper. I then placed it between two aluminum slats and then put it in the jig. It bent very easily and quickly. I let it sit in the jig with heat on (about 225) for about 20 minutes. Let it cool in place for about an hour and a half. When I took it out of the jig it did relax (didn't hold the exact shape). I then put it in the mold and it seemed to fit very nice. My first time bending and wasn't sure of exact times or temp. Any feedback or thoughts are appreciated.
Attachments
image.jpg
image.jpg (119.45 KiB) Viewed 1934 times
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image.jpg (110.59 KiB) Viewed 1934 times
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image.jpg (134.77 KiB) Viewed 1934 times
JJ
Learning every day. And having fun doing it.

John J
Posts: 359
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 4:30 pm
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Re: First try at bending

Post by John J » Mon May 25, 2015 12:14 pm

More pics.
Attachments
image.jpg
image.jpg (143.42 KiB) Viewed 1933 times
image.jpg
image.jpg (143.84 KiB) Viewed 1933 times
image.jpg
image.jpg (127.97 KiB) Viewed 1933 times
JJ
Learning every day. And having fun doing it.

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