High quality waist curve bends -- its worth the effort!!

[Kevin in California]

Dave,
I think you know I have used the pipe on 4 guitars, and it does work fine. There is a learning curve, and it can take some time, but it should go quickly if one knows what they are doing.....that is not me!
Now I've built my bender.....less than $75 to make it, and I will not go back to the pipe as a primary bending source.

Kevin

[RandyN]

Ken,

1. Do you make one section of the waist curve caul and then cut the other ones to match using a flush cutting router bit?

2. How do you make sure the dowel holes will line up perfectly when you glue the sections into one block?

[ken cierp]

Hi Randy, Welcome!

I know its not fair -- but we have three CNC machines.

I am sure you could make a template and use a bearing guided bit --- the trick is to drill the blanks so they have the dowel holes and use the dowel holes to locate your template -- make sense?

[RandyN]

You're right Ken...it's not fair! Since you have three CNC machines can you send one to me?

And it makes sense to drill the holes first in the blanks and then attach them to the template.

Do you have to take the bending machine apart to switch out different waist cauls? Or can you just tilt them in and out?

Thanks so much for this forum! I'll defenitely be utilizing it while building my next project...classical guitar.

Randy

[ken cierp]

Our (KMG) machines are modular by design so we can quickly change from style to style in a minute or two. You did give me an idea however, you could easily route a curved or angled track in the upright which would allow you to tip the caul and slide it out.

Glad that you find the forum useful -- as you may have noticed there are many, many talented members, all willing to share experience -- you just can't beat that !!!