side bending supplies, advise needed.

Hi all I'm getting ready to put together a side bender, and I am looking into getting a blanket and some bending slats...

I was Looking around ar mcmaster-carr and they have both heating blankets, and stainless stock that should work for a bending machine and be cheaper then the Luthier special prices from the luthier supply houses. Not to mention they are only a few hundred miles from me and whenever I order from them I get my orders in a couple days rather then a week or more.

First I am looking at a 6" x 24" blanket, and they come in 3 wattages 2.5, 5, and 10" watts. I am thinking a need the 5 watt blanket, but thought it best to ask those who know.

Second I see sheets of stainless steel in hardened and annealed.
The annealed stainless comes in .002" thickness. And the hardened comes in .001", .002", and so on. what should I be looking for? all I have seen is guitar builders seem to use .002" stainless, but i am not sure if this would be best for a uke with generally tighter curves then a guitar.

if anyone is interested, I am lookign at these to product pages at mcmaster
http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-foil/=g13noi
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/118/526/=g13kht

I like the stainless for guitars but I don't like it nearly as well for ukuleles. The stainless I have was purchased from Blues Creek. I like the blued spring steel for the tighter bends of a ukulele. The stainless gets all bent up and does not return to shape as well.

I've got stainless for guitars, but it's not suitable for ukes. For that I use aluminium flashing material. I'd like to use spring steel, but in my climate I'd spend more time trying to keep it from rusting away on me than actually using it.

you want 5 watts per inch.

For the bending slats I use Stainless Shim Stock SS-10, .010" x 6" x 50" from Lyon industries. It comes on a roll with enough length to make two bending slats. I get it locally from a metals supply house for $16.00. If you research their website, www.lyonindustries.com you may be able to find where it's retailed in your area. The shim stock works perfectly for me in the bending package.

If you are looking at press screws., these are a good deal and are very well made. http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/jorgensenpressscrew9.aspx.

Also, if you planing to use a heat controller you can pick up one at Harbor freight. It's called a Router Speed Control and it's the same one that others sell to use (please use with a timer). Find the controller at: http://www.harborfreight.com/router-speed-control-43060.html for $20.00.

I agree with Liam, 5 watts.
Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the replies.
definitely have the 5 watt per inch blanket on the list. I am also adding the HF controller to the list as well.
I also was looking at some spring steel shim stock. I can get it in 50' rolls in thicknesses from .004" up to .03"... I was thinking of trying some .005" stock and see how it works. I know that is quite thin, but for making the bends I thought it bay be to my advantage.

I guess I sould also mention that I am building a simple jig to start... similar to the one in the recent post " a low tech side bender... thus I will have full support under the sides as they are bent.

If you think you will someday need to bend guitar sides consider the 36" blanket instead of the 24".