And an other thing, - how does a bender with two light bulbs only, one under each bout, transfer heat to the material for the first initial bending of the waist? I've been wondering on that.
I would wonder that too if I started at the waist, sort of. In any case, you gotta try it to see what's going on w/ the heat.
Check out our Luthiers Interactive of North Texas page. Bo Walker's work up of the lightbulb machine is awesome. I use a Uke version of his design.
http://www.lint.org/TechNotes/lowcostbender.html
Wow, 20 minutes to heat up then another 20 to bend? I vaguely remember using a light bulb one (or was it a video?). . . either way, that image is deeply suppressed. I once said that once I learned how to use a blanket, bending sides was the fastest 5 minute process of the build. Until I started bending Milo. . .
Hello all!!
I have really enjoyed this forum!!!
I am gearing up to build a tenor Uke and am planning on building more than one.
I have found the most expensive new part I have to acquire is the heating blanket for the bender I am going to build.
EXCEPT for the hot pipe, is there an economical way around having to purchase a Watlow or other heat blanket?
Ideas anyone??????
chris
First off, welcome to the forum. 2nd, welcome to the lounge. While you may find economical answers to your question, you'll be hard pressed to find cheap here. As evidenced by the responses so far (mine included), it'll cost more in the long run avoiding the blanket. Now, if we all had the time and skill of Ken, we would have nice aluminum forms like him(good stuff) that could effectively use the halogen bulb.
Don't get me wrong, cheap is okay (I build my own cam clamps) - I also use a pipe at times ( for cutaways), however, since I'm too cheap to buy the pipe or make a torch setup, I drape my blanket over a pipe the I screw into the side of my bench.
Pipe and torch may be your cheapest route. FYI, there's a factory here that still uses a torch and pipe for their production instruments.
-Aaron