Making side bending forms

[Dave hayes]

I'm new to the forum and building. My question concerns sizing the side bending forms in comparison with the building mold, when using a Fox type side bender. Do you make the side bending forms the same size as the building mold, or would it be better to make the form smaller, taking in consideration, the thickness of the wood sides, thickness of the stainless steel slat or slates, and heating blanket that make up the sandwich. So if you only count the thickness of the average wood sides, .080 to .100 thousands thick, should the side bending form be an average of the two, and be made that much small to bend the wood so it fits more closely to the guitar mold?

Thanks for any help.
Dave.

[ken cierp]

Welcome!

There is a lot good info in the forum side bending section -- might change your thinking a bit -- for example with the exception of our (KMG) special cutaway benders all out slats are made of aluminum not SS and all our forms are also covered with aluminum. The cut bender does use .008" re-curve slats.

There is no need to under size your forums --- the best way to avoid waist curve spring back is to bend that curve first on a separate fixture like the major factories (and KMG) process.

Also keep in mind that most drawings do not have the correct side thickness stated --- Martin sides (all types of wood) are only .075"-- which in my view is the main criteria for trouble free side bending.

Trying to bend .10" sides will make you sad.